4 FARMERS' BULLETIN 614. 



little labor that it is worth a thorough trial. The following spring 

 the stalks and trash that remain on the surface of the field are cut 

 over with a sharp disk. This is the first step in the preparation of 

 this field for the second-year corn to follow. 



Field No. 2. Field No. 2 is devoted to second-year corn, or corn 

 following the year previous. Rye must be sown here in the fall 

 in order to furnish a field of rye for the next season, which, in 

 turn, affords a ready means of getting a stand of clover and timothy. 

 If it is a normal season and the corn stands well, the rye may be 

 sown in the standing corn with a 1-horse drill. If this is not possible, 

 the corn must be cut as early as is allowable, the ground prepared, 

 and the rye sown after the corn has been cut and shocked. If corn 

 cutting conies late, the rye may be sown late also and still give very 

 good results. Rye may be sown much later than wheat with much 

 more certainty 01 success. In some instances it is sown so late that 

 it does not come up until the next spring, and still it produces a fair 

 crop. This, however, is not desirable if it can be avoided. 



Field No. 3. Field No. 3 is devoted to rye during the entire season. 

 I n the fall of the year previous, timothy is sown with the rye, and the 

 clover is sown in the rye early the next spring, preferably in February. 

 During the spring the rye is pastured by the hogs as long as it is 

 palatable. It affords excellent pasturage, which is quite valuable 

 for young hogs and brood sows. As soon as it becomes tough the 

 hogs will begin to chew it for the juices and throw the remainder out 

 on the ground. This is a sign that they have derived about all the 

 benefit they are capable of getting from the green pasturage. They 

 are then taken out and are not returned to the field until about two 

 weeks after the rye has ripened. Then they are allowed to gather 

 the entire crop of rye and graze on the young clover that has come 

 up from the spring seeding. The hogging down of rye is discussed 

 in full later under the heading "The rye crop." 



Field No. 4- The clover and timothy in field No. 4 in a 5-year 

 rotation are devoted entirely to hog pasture. Where this plan is used 

 with a 4-year rotation, as is often done, the grass crop on this field 

 must furnish both pasture for the hogs and hay for the horses and for 

 the cows kept for family use. Hence, it is seen to be an advantage to 

 sow a mixture of clover and timothy instead of clover alone. The 

 hogs graze principally on the clover and leave most of the timothy 

 to be cut for hay. A good cutting of mixed hay can generally be 

 taken from the best parts of the field. This will usually be sufficient 

 for the horses and cows. 



Field No. 5. The clover and timothy in field No. 5 occupy the 

 ground for the second year. It should! be nearly all timothy, though 

 sometimes a good deal of clover may be present also. The grass crop 

 on this field is cut for hay and may be sold. Late in the fall it is 

 plowed for the first-year corn, which follows the next year. If not 

 pastured too closely, this affords an excellent opportunity to plow 

 under a good second growth of grass that will be very beneficial to 

 the land. 



THE SYSTEM OF LIVE-STOCK MANAGEMENT. 



The principal live stock to be kept on a farm using this system is 

 swine. The fall pigs are turned in on the rye in field No. 3 as early in 

 the spring as is permissible. This is generally from April 10 to 15. 



