2ti STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in September. You have a fair crop of clover the next year and a good 

 one the year following. The other plan is to plow in the spring and fit 

 as for oats, and sow clover without nur.se crop. Run mower over field 

 twice during latter part of summer, and let the clippings lie where cut. 

 A great crop of clover is assured the next year. Under either of these 

 plans timothy may be sown if mixed hay is sought. 



THE CLOVER GROWN; WHAT NEXT? 



Shall we plow it under, in our system? Plowing under is no doubt a 

 good plan, but a much better one is to harvest the crop and feed it out. 

 Properly cured clover hay is the nearest approach to a perfect food for 

 our domestic animals, of any single thing that we can grow or buy. It 

 should enter largely into the feed rations of our horses, cattle, sheep and 

 swine, even the poultry reciving occasional allowances of it in winter. 

 Given that adjacent farmers are rearing stock, feeding for market, or are 

 engaged in dairying. The one using a liberal allowance of clover hay, 

 and the other none. No attempts at scientifically balancing rations by 

 the latter will prevent his falling to the rear of the former, if all other 

 conditions are equal. The chemist cannot absolutely point us the way, 

 and the vender of commercial fertilizers is not with us. We are all how- 

 ever, very w^ell aware that a successful way of maintaining the soil fertil- 

 ity of a farm is to use upon it all the barnyard manure obtainable. To 

 secure barnyard manure, carry all stock necessary to consume the forage 

 and coarse grains grown upon the farm. To carry much stock we should 

 grow a liberal amount of forage. 



The forage crop that is up and away in advance of all other forage crops 

 in the production of a maximum amount of food with a minimum amount 

 of labor, is the giant grass, corn. 



CORN IS KING, 



at least of Michigan forage plants. How shall it be grown and utilized 

 in our' system of mixed husbandry? The clover plant — the legume we 

 have been considering — has fixed the corn field. Its wonderfully long 

 roots have gone down and brought within our reach fertility that was 

 stored beyond our depth. Its foliage has gathered from the atmosphere 

 chemical properties of the highest importance to the agriculturist. It 

 has even changed the color of the soil. We have an ideal field for corn. 

 Any available barn yard manure to devote to this field has reached it 

 during the winter and spring. As to the propriety of properly plowing 

 and thoroughly fitting this field, we are all agreed. We grow, harvest 

 and feed the crop differently. My plan is substantially as follows: Plant 

 from May 20 to 30 with corn planter and check rower. One man with 

 road team plants 40 acres in two days, taking it as the drag leaves it and 

 it is rowed both ways. Commence cultivating the crop within a week 

 by dragging. As soon as corn shows well abandon drags and cultivate. 

 Have attachment that cuts off the weeds. Use small and numerous 

 teeth. Cultivate level and fine but not deep. Cultivate often. Once a 

 week if possible. By keeping the soil level and fine at the top, even 

 though dust flies, you conserve soil moisture, and facilitate the crop get- 

 ting its needed moisture by capillary attraction. Under such conditions 

 the corn growls on, and it does not roll even though rain should not fall 



