ROTATION OF CROPS. 293 



grasses as often as practicable, and then kill them with the 

 plow, and convert their decomposed substances into grain. 

 "The grass crop is the basis of all improvement, where it can 

 be made to grow well. 



"AT WHAT TIME IN THE ROTATION SHOULD THE BARN-YARD 

 MANURE BE APPLIED ? 



" For many years I have been trying to learn the best methods 

 *' of taking care of and using barn-yard manure, and now I am 

 '■'■ ready to confess my lack of knowledge in regard to this impor- 

 *■*■ tant matter. 



" Farmers that raise much grain, and keep a proper stock of 

 " sheep or cows to consume their coarse fodder, or, if not con- 

 " sume it, to trample it under foot during the winter, and get it in 

 " condition to be applied to the land, make immense quantities of 

 " manure that costs them much labor to handle, and it is always 

 "a matter of great interest to them to learn the best methods of 

 " doing this work. I do not propose to enter into the discussion 

 " of this topic now, but will state the practice most approved 

 " here. 



'' Sheep are the best farm stock to manufacture manure. 

 " Properly wintered, under sheds that can be closed against 

 " storms, having small yards connected with them, sheep will 

 *' trample much straw under foot, and will dispose in like manner 

 " of the coarser part of the corn-stalks so well, that twice or 

 *' three times during the winter the manure can be drawn on 

 *' sleds from the sheds and yards, and spread on the snow that 

 *' then covers the pastures and ground designed for the next year's 

 " crop of corn. The manure must be quite fine to justify its 

 " being put on the ground designed for corn. Spread on pastures, 

 " a bad flavor is given to the grass next year ; but, aside from this 

 " objection, I know of no place where it does so much good. A 

 " pasture treated in the winter to raw unfermented manure will 

 " be so strong in grass, and the soil will become so rich, that, 

 " whether plowed the next summer for wheat, or after being one 



