18 FOB AGE CBOPS 



in the early fall and the land left bare of vegeta- 

 tion until spring, when it is seeded with oats with- 

 out further manuring. After the oats are harvested 

 the land either grows weeds, which in this ease are 

 of some value, or is plowed and allow^ed to lie bare 

 until September or October, when it is seeded with 

 wheat. An even less rational method, from the 

 standpoint of economical use of the manure, be- 

 cause it results in loss of fertility elements, is to 

 apply manure to the wheat instead of the corn. 

 By this system, but one, or at most two hay crops 

 (if the second crop is harvested) are taken, and 

 the land has but one year of partial rest in four; 

 besides, there are two periods" in the rotation when 

 the land is bare, and suffers loss by leaching, 

 blowing or washing, and possible lowering of "con- 

 dition" due to the destruction of organisms. 



The above rotation is inexpensive of labor, and 

 may prove profitable for grain-growing for a long 

 time, on lands originally very fertile; but the fer- 

 tility may be improved by the introduction of 

 cover- crops and catch -crops, which will prevent 

 possible losses of constituents, but which need not 

 reduce the number of grain crops, and besides add 

 one or more crops of hay. To accomplish this, the 

 first crop (corn) may be seeded with the rye or 

 wheat before, or immediately after, it is harvested. 

 The rye will absorb and retain the nitrates formed 

 m late summer and not used by the corn, and 



