354 State Board ok Agriculture, &c. 



by draining, these soils have l)een brought within the four 

 years' rotation. 



And here comes in a very inij)ortant use of clover again. 

 The long tap roots penetrating through the hard, stiif clay 

 down almost as low as the drains, decay, and leave an open- 

 ing formed hj the root, which serves as a conductor from 

 the surface of the ground down to the di-ain, lioth for the 

 water to leave the surface and likewise for the air to pene- 

 trate the soil, whicli is very essential for the improvement 

 of the soil. 



The clover root contains a very large amount of nitro- 

 gen ; ■ consequently the land, by being stocked with clover 

 every fourth year, becomes porous, friable and compara- 

 tively full of nitrogenous and vegetable matter, enhancing 

 the value of such land one hundred per cent. 



The next thing of importance in connection with rotation 

 is the art of plowing. The main oljject in plowing is to 

 pulverize the ground and make it suitable for the reception 

 of another crop. The first general requisite is to plow 

 true and straight. The former is done by knowing how 

 to gauge the plow, the latter by practice. 



Plowing. — In plowing common soils, the plow is gauged 

 to lay the furrow at an angle of about forty-five degrees, 

 or, in other words, to have one furrow lap over the other 

 one a little, so that beneath the furrow there will be a 

 small open space. This serves as a drainage from the top of 

 the ground, likewise for the circulation of air, and has a 

 tendency to keep the ground light. 



But, in plowing their light soils, they adopt the reverse 

 com-se, plowing their land very early in the season and lay- 



