FAKMEKS' INSTITUTES. 25 



is as follows: Keep up soil fertility and conserve moisture. Soil mois- 

 ture is successfully conserved in fields where frequent cultivation is pos- 

 sible, mechanically — that is to say, by certain ways of tillage. The main- 

 taining of soil fertility is best assured under a system of mixed farming — 

 thnt is, the growing of forage and grain crops, selling some of the latter; 

 and the rearing and selling of live stock and live stock products. 



I am not now about to slander the good name of my county or the 

 little city in which I have resided for a third of a century. I am bound, 

 however, to say that my farm experience has been acquired under as 

 grave and adverse climatic conditions as exist in Michigan. I speak from 

 hard experience in a section of the State that lies probably fifty miles 

 north of the north line of the frequent trans-continental storms which 

 pass around rather than icross the south end of Lake Michigan. The 

 location is less than that distance south of the south line of the trail of 

 the great storms that are associated with the history of the Straits, the 

 Upper Peninsula, Lake Superior and the Dakotas. I judge that so far 

 as climatic conditions are concerned, statements as to practical mainte- 

 nance of soil fertility and conservation of soil moisture which will operate 

 at Stanton, will work as well in other parts of the State. 



I might say in passing that in the little hamlet in which I reside, the 

 commercial fertilizer dealer has not as yet made his advent. The high 

 smelling phosphate bag has not as yet perfumed the air as it fell over 

 the tail board of the farmer's wagon on his return from the corners where 

 he had been to market. Farming in my vicinity has only shown a profit 

 in cases where the farmer has trusted in providence and — kept his powder 

 dry. 



How^ then may we fairly expect, under general climatic, conditions of 

 Michigan to maintain our soil fertility, and at the same time make agri- 

 culture fairly profitable? I answer by pursuing a practical, rational 

 system of mixed farming. 



THE SHEET ANCHOR OF THIS SYSTEM IS CLOVER. 



Given we can grow clover, and such other crops as we desire to produce 

 are assured. 



Can we grow clover? Probably always if the soil is not too nearly ex- 

 hausted, and the clover is given a fair chance for its life. The clover 

 has many insect or parasitical enemies, which come and go, and they are 

 frequently fatal to the plant. We will pass them all by in this discus- 

 sion and consider only the farmer's part in trying to grow a clover crop. 

 Clover is by no means certain to make a stand if grown with what is 

 called a nurse crop. For instance, clover is sown on good well tilled 

 land in the spring in a crop of growing wheat. The seed germinates, 

 makes a good showing in the shade of the growing wheat and at harvest 

 time shows a complete stand, but the plant is small. A crop of say 20 to 

 30 bushels of wheat is cut. The shade to which the clover had thus far 

 accustomed itself is removed, and unless frequent showers are then the 

 rule (an unusual thing in my locality) the clover plants have all disap- 

 peared by the time the last load of wheat is hauled out of the field. You 

 may always expect a catch of clover under two different plans of pro- 

 cedure. One plan is to plow your wheat stubble after harvest. Till as 

 though for wheat, only not so deep, and sow to clover in August or early 

 4, 



