THE ROTATION OF FARM CROPS 65 



uniform and more certain yearly returns. When corn alone 

 is grown, the farmer depends entirely on the yield and price 

 of his corn for his profit. On land that can grow several 

 crops profitably it is poor business to depend entirely on 

 one crop for a profit and a living. 



ROTATION FURNISHES A BALANCED RATION 

 FOR LIVE STOCK 



It is necessary to grow several crops in order to have a 

 balanced ration for live stock. Rotation of grain with legu- 

 minous crops gives this balanced ration. Corn is very rich 

 in starch. When it is grown extensively there is a tendency 

 to feed a ration deficient in protein. Since there is a large 

 amount of protein in all the legumes, the ration can be bal- 

 anced by growing and feeding clover, alfalfa, soy beans, 

 etc. The first one hundred pounds of weight of spring pigs 

 can be produced very cheaply if they have access to good 

 clover or alfalfa pasture. Our principal profit in growing 

 hogs is due to the fact that they are raised on clover and 

 soy bean pasture. 



WHAT is THE BEST CROP ROTATION? 



This is the question that each farmer will have to solve 

 for himself. Crop rotations should depend upon the size of 

 the farm, the nature of the soil, the market demand for the 

 different crops and the abundance or scarcity of labor. 



Again, a rotation that is good for one season may not 

 be the best for another; but notwithstanding all this, every 

 crop rotation should include at least one leguminous crop. 



A good five-year rotation, and one that will build up the 

 land is, corn two years, soy beans one year (or cowpeas), 



