122 FOR BETTER CROPS 



all things considered, it would not be much less than the market 

 value of the hay. 



In the absence of grass, the humus supply in the land can not 

 be maintained so well in any other way, which means that with- 

 out it, land can not be kept for a considerable term of years in a 

 proper mechanical condition. Without the grass crop, weeds 

 can not be so readily kept under control, nor can the diseases 

 that affect grain crops be so readily kept at bay. In its absence, 

 some soils blow and others are carried away by the action of 

 water, which may fall in the form of rain or snow. In its 

 absence, live stock can not be maintained on the farm without 

 undue expense, and consequently, in its absence mixed farming 

 will be impossible. Beyond all question, grass is king among 

 the crops of the farm in the United States and so it will con- 

 tinue to be. 



Meadow in the Rotation — In the absence of the grass crop, 

 true rotation in the sense of resting and renovating land, is not 

 possible without undue expense. To change from one cereal 

 crop to another in the rotation does not rest or renovate land 

 unless the cereal grown is a legume. Growing these crops in 

 alternation has some advantages over growing only one in 

 unchanging succession, especially when one of these, as corn for 

 instance, is made a cleaning crop, but all of these, except the 

 pea crop, draw upon practically the same elements of fertility 

 in the land. 



The frequency with which the hay crop should be introduced 

 into the rotation depends upon conditions such as relate to soil, 

 climate, the character of the hay crop grown, and the object for 

 which it is grown. 



Where the soil conditions are such that in conjunction with 

 the climatic conditions, a stand of grass can be reckoned on with 

 much certainty, the introduction of the grass crop should be 

 quite frequent in the rotation. The aim should be, as a rule, to 

 grow not more than three crops of grain between the grass crops. 

 In this way the land may be adequately supplied with humus. 

 With great propriety the grass crop may precede such crops as 

 corn and potatoes, and if the sod has been manured with farm- 

 yard manure before plowing it, the conditions are just to that 

 extent improved. Under the conditions named, the plan is good 

 which cuts two crops of mixed hay, followed by one season of 

 pasturing. This in time is followed by a cultivated crop, and 

 after the cultivated crop, two crops of cereals. 



Wherever the rainfall is large and the temperature warm, it 

 would be better to aim to grow only. two crops of cereals between 

 the grass crops, because of the quick decay of humus. But where 

 the rainfall is light, and the atmosphere of a character which 

 retards the decay of iiumus, as in the northwestern states, in 



