66 



KEEPING ONE COW. 



As soon as the season is far enough advanced, one-sixth of the 

 plot (one-eighth of an acre) should be planted in sweet corn. One 

 half of the corn should be set out very early, and the rest about 

 four weeks later, so as to extend its growth, and consequently its 

 availability as green fodder, over a longer period. The furrows 

 should be three feet apart, and the corn planted in drills, [sixteen 

 to twenty kernels to the foot ED.] Afterwards the corn should 

 be cultivated two or three times, and kept clear of weeds. When 

 the corn fodder is all disposed of, the corn patch should be plowed, 

 and seeded with about a peck of rye, and a pint of timothy seed, 

 and in the following spring a quart of clover seed should be sown 

 upon the rye. These crops will give the land a complete rotation 

 every six years. The following diagram indicates the proper suc- 

 cession of the crops and shows the plot of land divided into six 

 equal parts, containing one-eighth of an acre each : 



1st Year. \ 2nd Year. I 3rd Tear. \ 4tfi Year. \ 5th Year. \ 6th Year. 



Clover occupies two parts, rye one part, and Jerusalem Arti- 

 chokes two parts every year. Clover follows rye; rye follows 

 corn ; corn follows artichokes ; and artichokes follow clover. 

 Every year one-half of the clover, namely, the two year-old clover 

 patch, is plowed, and planted in artichokes. The latter must be 

 planted anew, and not be allowed to grow as a "volunteer crop," 

 but must be regularly cultivated, and all the plants that come up 

 between the hills destroyed. 



The manure derived from the cow during the winter, should be 

 spread In spring on the land intended for corn and artichokes, and 

 plowed down, and that made in summer should be applied to the 

 rye and clover patches in fall. Ashes and a moderate quantty 

 of lime, spread on the clover patch early in spring, will be bene- 

 ficial, and a peck of gypsum scattered on the young and growing 

 clover, will answer an excellent purpose as a healthy stimulant of 

 its growth. 



The spring time of the first year must be tided over with hay 

 until the clover is large enough for soiling. Green clover is then 



