10 AGKICULTURAL CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW YORK. 



Close observation and study of successful and unsuccessful crops and 

 farm management on these lands point to two or three principal lines 

 of development. These are the live-stock industries, the growing of 

 fruit, and the conservation of the farm wood lot." Before either of 

 the first two can be successfully practiced there must be developed 

 an adaptable and self-sustaining crop rotation. 



A CROPPING SYSTEM. 



In planning a rotation of crops for these agriculturalh' neglected 

 areas, the condition in which the land is at present and the means 

 at hand with which to work must receive first consitleration. Clover 

 can not be grown at once. Stock can not be kept profitabh' until 

 the feed with which to support them can l^e ])roduced. Neither 

 expensive teams nor im])lements can be purchased. There may 

 not even be money enough on hand to buy new seed. Tem])orary 

 repairs to buildings must answer the purpose. Little extra labor 

 can be emplo^^ed. 



The first thing, then, will be to make the best use of the means 

 at hand. Deeper plowing and thorough cultivation will be the first 

 important step. Since buckwheat and rye grow well, the yields 

 of these crops can undoubtedly be increased by a better preparation 

 of the land. The grain will furnish feed for the team and a few 

 head of stock. The straw should be conserved and, together with 

 the small amount of manure produced, used on the corn or potato 

 land for the following year. Possibly a ])art of the rye or buckwheat, 

 if it does not promise well, may be i)lowed under as green manure. 

 A cash crop will be of primary importance, for money must be 

 obtained with which to j)urchase new seed corn, seed potatoes, 

 grain and clover seed, and also lime to prepare the land for clover. 

 Potatoes will in most cases be the best and most desirable cash cro]). 

 Only a small area can be planted the first year; therefore, much 

 de])endence must be placed on good, vigorous seed and the most 

 thorough cultivation of land that has rested for a few years. 



As soon as the potatoes are harvested, about 1,500 ])ounds of lime 

 to the acre should be a])plied and worked into the soil thorougldy. 

 Then the field should be seeded to rye and the following spring sown 

 with about 8 pounds of medium-red and 4 pounds of alsike clover, 

 together with 4 pounds of timothy and 4 pounds of redtop to the 

 acre. After a good stand of clover is once obtained improvement 

 will be much more rapid. Gradually a three-year rotation of rye, 

 clover, and corn or potatoes may be built up. To this may be added 

 oats following the corn, wheat (in the place of rye) following the 



"See Bailey, L. H., The State and the Farmer, pp. 51-54. 

 LCir. «4J 



