434 RURAL MICHIGAN 



tion most successful was that of grains, legumes 

 and inter-tilled crops. These were grown in a three- 

 or four-year rotation. In the latter grain was the 

 crop for the first year, for the second year, hay; the 

 third year, hay or pasture ; and the fourth year, inter- 

 tilled crops. The three-year rotation was in general 

 use where pasture on undeveloped land was abundant. 



The clearing of cut-over lands obviously calls for 

 much heavy labor, and this seems favorable to cer- 

 tain sturdy European stocks inured and willing to 

 labor under rough conditions and with low initial 

 returns. During the early years of farm-making, 

 there is opportunity for work in the woods during the 

 winter and always for additional land-clearing opera- 

 tions. Indeed, most farmers of the northern cut- 

 over country are only part-time agriculturists, de- 

 voting a fair proportion of their time to lumbering 

 or other pursuits to augment the family income. 



In the farm economy, care must be taken not to 

 grow more vegetables and small-fruits than can be 

 taken care of at home, except where urban markets 

 are available. On the other hand, the farm will pro- 

 duce ample supplies of fuel from its timber and 

 slashings, with fence-posts and stakes, not only for 

 home use but also for shipment to outside markets. 

 Lumber, stone, sand and gravel are usually locally 

 accessible. 



At Escanaba, in the heart of the cut-over country, 

 exists the factory of the A. J. Kirstin Company, 

 manufacturers of stump-pullers. Some of these 

 operate by man-power and some by horse-power, on 



