SPECIAL CROPS. 261 



By this plan two grain crops are never raised off the same 

 field in succession. The following is a four course rotation, 

 whicS, in some localities, will do very well : First year, corn, 

 potatoes, or fallow, manured. Second, oats. Third, clover. 

 Fourth, wheat. 



The only objection to this course is that one grain crop, corn, 

 is followed by another grain crop, oats ; but in the culture of 

 maize the soil is, or should be, kept perfectly free from weeds, 

 and being a dull crop, the land is generally in good heart for 

 cereals. 



Of course the farmer must form his system to suit his own 

 peculiar circumstances, but will do well to adhere to the princi- 

 ple laid down. It will be noticed that we advocate wheat after 

 clover, or more literally clover before wheat. We consider it 

 good practice, as will be seen by reading the chapter on wheat 

 culture. In many wheat growing districts the rotation is limited 

 to wheat and clover, two seasons in clover and one in wheat, 

 sheep and horses consuming the clover on the farm. This can 

 only be good practice, however, in districts covered with lime- 

 stone and plaster beds. Another plan is to raise wheat after 

 potatoes, commencing the rotation with corn, heavily manured 

 and thoroughly cultivated, following this with potatoes and 

 barnyard manure, the third year wheat, and then two years in 

 grass. We have heretofore spoken of turnips and wheat in 

 Chapter Y. A crop of peas is one of the best to precede winter 

 wheat; they take but a small proportion of the wheat producing 

 material, mature rapidly, and when fed out to growing stock 

 return full value to the soil. They leave the ground mellow 

 and friable, but a dressing of well composted manure should be 

 plowed in after the peas are removed. Wheat was formerly 

 sown after Indian corn, but as it takes, in large measure, the 

 same plant food, it cannot be called good practice. 



