96 CLOVER CULTURE. 



or, it could be pastured with advantage during the months of 

 July and August. The land being in excellent heart the 

 fourth year should furnish a fine crop of mixed clovers, and or- 

 chard grass, which would during the fall months afford a large 

 amount of pasture. We make the above suggestion merely 

 as a matter worthy of trial, not only at the experiment stations, 

 but in a small way by the farmers themselves. Should the soy 

 bean meet the expectations of those who are best acquainted 

 with its value, it could be substituted for the mammoth clover. 

 The soy beans could be removed in time for a wheat crop, 

 leaving the land in excellent condition for seeding without 

 plowing, and thus one year's loss of the use of the land be 

 avoided. The reason for using orchard grass is that it suc- 

 ceeds admirably, even on quite dry soils far west of the Mis- 

 souri. It furnishes in connection with clover a very superior 

 aftermath, but the cost of the seed is so great that it should 

 not be plowed up for at least two or three years after sowing. 



Some Minnesota farmers have adopted with great advan- 

 tage the following rotation: 



i. Corn; 2. Barley; 3. Spring wheat; 4. Oats sown with 

 clover and timothy; 5. Clover and timothy meadow; 6. Pas- 

 ture. 



This rotation has resulted in a very great increase of the 

 fertility of the land for the time being, but lands must be 

 very fertile indeed to endure four grain crops in succession 

 without the use of clover. 



We have given these examples of rotation in use in dif- 

 ferent parts of the West, not for the purpose of discussing the 

 subject of rotations, but to show how essential clover is to 

 any rotation that will secure large crops and at the same time 

 conserve the fertility of the land. 



A rotation specially adapted for locations where winter 

 wheat is a reliable crop, and where potatoes by reason of 

 market facilities are profitable, is, 



i. Clover; 2. Potatoes; 3. Winter wheat. 



This in many respects is an admirable rotation. In fact 

 it fulfills all the requirements of an ideal rotation. Clover 

 turned under early in the fall, say in August or September, 

 forms the very best preparation for a large and profitable crop 

 of potatoes. The clover being in itself an admirable cleaning 

 crop, the culture of potatoes is an easy matter. There are 

 comparatively few weed seeds to germinate and give trouble, 

 and these can be easily kept down in the cultivation of the 

 potatoes. It besides furnishes in available form and in great 



