34 STATE HOARD OF AGRLCULTUKK. 



ine as a positive fact it has placed the whole subject of foiming before me 

 in a very different and a much more hopeful light. 



I believe, today, it is vv^ithin the reach of the American farmer to con- 

 tinue his processes of production and yet constantly and steadily 



INCREASE THK PRODUCTIVE POWER OF THE SOIL. 



This is a very strong statement to make, but I believe the possibilities 

 lie in the future of getting as much wealth from the cultivation of the 

 soil as at any time in the history of our great country, but we cannot do it 

 practicing our old methods. We have got to be much more careful stu- 

 dents of all of the processes which enter into production, and we must 

 study not only to save the losses, but the methods by which we can keep 

 up production and at the same time improve the productive power of our 

 soil. I believe there is no greater field for young men today to enter 

 than the field of agriculture if they will become the close students of the 

 principles that underly soil management as they would to study for any 

 profession whicli th(\v might choose. 



DISCUSSION. 



]. N. COWDREY, ITHACA, GRATIOT COUNTY, 



Led tho discussion, empbnsiziiifr the impovtanee of carefully hustaandinii the 

 manure. It is folly to leave the manure spread out over a barnyard where the 

 rains of fall and spring leach out the more valuable part.s. It is better by far to 

 preserve carefully and spread thinly over the 13 elds. Good success has followed 

 top dressing clover fields. 



It is not necessary to keep a large amount of stock on a farm; fertility may be 

 partly maintained by plowing leguminous crops, especially clovei'. On one occa- 

 sion Mr. Cowdrey plowed under four tons of clover to the acre on a certain field 

 and had excellent crops as a result. 



Geo. A. Waters: Is crimson clover bad stock food? 



Geo. T. Powell: There are instances in which the chaff has rolled up into balls 

 in the stomachs of animals and has done serious in.iury to them. I don't advocate 

 feeding it. 



Q. Is crimson clover adapted to Michigan? 



Geo. T. Powell: I wish to he understood in recommending to your State the 

 ■ study of this crimson clover culture that it is only as a means of improving the 

 soil. There have been many failures in connection with its use, but they have been 

 because the plant has not been studied or rightly understood. It differs in many 

 respects from our other clovers— it is a foreign plant. It has been thought to be 

 adapted more especially to warm climates, but as Ave study its nature and require- 

 ments its use can be very much more widely extended than is at present thought 

 of. It being an annual plant, it must not be sown in the early part of the season 

 to get the greatest benefit, but rather after the hottest part of the season is past. 

 It grows best in the autumn months, and hence for this reason it is one of the mosr 

 valuable plants to be used as a cover plant, whicli can be introduced only after 

 our period of tillage has been closed. We must not sow crimson clover with refer- 

 ence to making hay of it, although it is excellent for that, but keep in mind the 

 single purpose of an after, or cover, crop, to protect our soil during the winter 

 months, and to do so especially after we have followed the high system of tillage 

 which I am practicing and am rccouiniiMidiug to you today. 



Q. Will it go through the spring? 



Geo. T. Powell: I don't want it to go througii llie spring— I merely want the aid 

 which, this plant can give me after I have finished tiie tillage of my soil. I want 

 the humus which it will give to the soil. I want the nitrogen which It is fully 

 capable of supplying in an all sufficient quantity from .July to .January. I merely 

 want it to hold and protect my soil dm-ing tlie wiuTr-r, and in the spring I care not 



