44 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



There should be kept upon every farm enough live stock to con- 

 sume all of the roughness that would otherwise go to waste, thereby 

 converting it into money and at the same time increasing its value as 

 a fertilizer. 



When sowing spring grain one should estimate the number of acres 

 that can cover that year with barnyard manure, and on what connot 

 be covered with manure, sow clover seed with the grain; giving the 

 clover seed the same covering as the grain. After the grain is harvested 

 do not pasture the clover but give it a chance to grow. The following 

 spring plow that part of the field first on which the manure was spread, 

 leaving the part on which the clover was sown as long as possible be- 

 fore plowing. In this way all the land sown to small grain would be 

 fertilized each year. There can be as much loss of fertility from the 

 way the ground is handled as there is used by the crop. This year has 

 given us some very good examples. Last March and April were very 

 dry and windy months. The ground that had been plowed the fall be- 

 fore blew very badly. Along the edge of some of these fields the dust 

 drifted two feet deep. In some places where the cornstalks had been 

 raked and burned the oats and wheat was blown out so badly there was 

 scarcely half a stand. Where the dust settled on meadow land the grass 

 grew much heavier, which goes to show there must have been a loss to 

 the land from whence it blew. 



In June the season changed from very dry to very wet, and now 

 these same fields that blew the worst in the dry weather washed the 

 worst in wet weather. How are these losses to be overcome? 



First. I noticed that spring plowing blew scarcely any, and fall 

 plowing that was disced and left ridged did not blow much. 



Second. Land that had its cornstalks and stubble burned every 

 year and had not been manured any, blew and washed out a great deal 

 worse than land that had not been burned over and had been kept well 

 fertilized. I have therefore come to the conclusion that it is better to 

 burn nothing, but leave all rubbish on the ground to decay. Plow only 

 in the fall when it is necessary to kill weeds that live over winter, and 

 that as soon after harvest as possible. Never plow over five inches deep 

 or when the ground is muddy. Keep land well drained. Sow clover' 

 every spring with the small grain. All hay and fodder raised on the 

 farm should be fed on the farm. Keep all stock well bedded and haul 

 manure to field as fast as made. Where these principles have been car- 

 ried out the land has increased rather than diminished in fertility. 



Chairman : This paper, gentlemen, is now open for discussion, 

 and we will be pleased to hear from any of you. Mr. Calderwood, 

 we would like to hear from you. 



Mb. Oaederwood : Mr. Chairman, I believe that I do not care 

 to say anything. I would prefer to hear from some of these older 

 farmers. 



