WESTERN FARMING. 237 



plow under the better, as this forms vegetable matter 

 for plant food and conservation of moisture for the 

 succeeding crops. The upper portion of the straw 

 and chaff can be used for fodder. 



A farmer cannot afford to burn straw, as it is 

 too valuable for the soil. 



After the first or second year, five pounds per 

 acre of red clover seed should be sown with all the 

 grain crops and plowed under with the stubble in 

 autumn in order to keep up the fertility of the soil. 

 It would be advisable to sow two or three acres with 

 red clover the first year as an experiment. If the 

 clover does not grow it may be for the want of the 

 proper bacteria in the soil, and the following spring 

 sufficient nitro-culture should be ordered from one 

 of the agricultural colleges to treat a few pounds of 

 red clover seed, and this sown according to directions 

 received with the culture. Afterwards the inocu- 

 lated surface soil can be used to treat other portions 

 of the farm. Clover will not grow on low, wet land. 



A three years' rotation would be suitable for the 

 West (after the soil has been treated with the clover 

 culture), viz., two years, grain; the second grain 

 crop being seeded with ten pounds red clover and 

 four pounds orchard grass. This gives hay or 

 pasture the third year. Early in the autumn plow 

 the clover sod about four inches deep ; then roll and 

 harrow thoroughly, so that the surface will be level 

 and in good shape to sow with grain early the follow- 

 ing spring. This system should keep up the fertility 

 of the soil indefinitely. 



Not the least important matter in this western 

 country is the planting of trees on the west and 

 north of the home as a protection from the cold 

 winds in winter. 



