158 POTATO CULTUBE. 



tion, and a good one. I would cut all clover for hay in this 

 case. Clover hay cut early, and good corn ensilage, make a 

 ration for cows that is almost perfect, needing only the 

 addition of a little wheat bran and oilmeal or cotton-seed 

 meal. The rye would prevent waste of fertility from the 

 corn stubble. The potatoes would have old fertility, which 

 is so much better than fresh manure. Corn loves fresh 

 manure. The wheat would give straw for bedding the cows. 

 I would not advise, as a rule, the growing of any more crops 

 than those named. If oats are wanted, better buy them, 

 where wheat does well. (Of course, this rotation will not do 

 for (^localities.) Give all your attention to the cows and 

 potatoes, rather than undertake more. I know a dairyman 

 who had seen that I was making money out of potatoes, as 

 was he out of his w r ork. But I think he was then under- 

 taking too much, and would have done better to try to do 

 less rather than more. But he did not seem to see any 

 reason why he could not grow potatoes too, on top of all he 

 was doing, and succeed as well as I. He tried it. He has 

 had some heavy and almost total losses of crop to endure. 

 To be sure, if the season had been just right, so he need lose 

 hardly a day, he might have done fairly well ; but it isn't 

 often so, and we must take these matters as we find them, 

 and fit our work accordingly by not undertaking too much. 



Of course, you see where the weak place in this rotation is. 

 The digging of potatoes, getttng in wheat, and cutting ensi- 

 lage, come too much in a heap, or would in a wet fall ; but it 

 could be managed fairly well, as a rule, with a little extra 

 help. Putting in the two crops would not clash, as early 

 potatoes should be planted first ; and the help that was 

 needed on a dairy farm could care for both. The corn can 

 be grown for grain, on a farm where a dairy is not kept, and 

 the rotation will be an excellent one just the same in fact, 

 as good as I know of. In both the rotations given, there is 

 the minimum of danger from such pests as the Hessian fly, 

 wireworm, white grub, scab, and the numerous troubles that 



