76 THE BUSINESS OF FAEMING 



pasturing, and then plowing under the same to- 

 gether with the corn stalks in the spring to the 

 depth of nine or more inches. We were called 

 foolish for not utilizing the pasture that this 

 method afforded, yet, by this method of procedure, 

 we restored worn-out soil to a fertility that made 

 it produce profitable crops and doubled its value. 



We have grown crops of fine alfalfa on worn 

 soil in the driest of seasons, which afforded an 

 abundance of hay and pasture for all kinds of 

 stock throughout the entire summer and fall sea- 

 son, when neighbors' fields were bare, and they 

 were compelled to have their children to herd 

 their cattle along the roadsides that they might 

 graze the little dried up blue grass that had es- 

 caped the ravages of drouth. Why did they not 

 imitate the example set before them? It was for 

 some of the reasons stated. 



We make a mistake by not feeding our soils 

 enough organic matter. In feeding organic mat- 

 ter to soils we must somewhat follow the rules of 

 stock feeding. No animal will grow to maturity 

 in a first class and profitable condition unless it 

 has been constantly fed sufficient and the right 

 kind of food. We can not feed to-day and starve 

 to-morrow and expect profitable results. It is the 

 same with our wearing soils. One dose or feed 

 of organic matter every three or four years is 

 not sufficient, for organic matter in the soil is 

 consumed in plant growth so fast that its supply 

 is soon exhausted unless some method has been 

 inaugurated upon the farm by which constant 

 supplies can be secured to the soil. Therefore 

 the system of animal and green manuring we es- 



