SPECIAL FARM TOPICS 209 



3. Wheat being a more particular crop than oats, it should 

 have a better place in the rotation than should the latter crop. 



4. Flax is not more exhaustive of the fertility of the soil than 

 are the other grain crops. 



5. The growth of a nitrogen-gathering crop, as represented by 

 Canada field peas and by vetch, has increased the growth of straw 

 in the following crops without materially increasing the yield of 

 grain. This has been the most marked where the peas have been 

 plowed under as green manure, or "hogged off" on the land. 



6. Plowing under peas for green manure has not as yet shown 

 any benefits over a summer fallow. 



7. At the end of eight years land that has grown *wheat and 

 corn alternately is producing better crops of wheat, of both straw 

 and grain, than is similar land upon which wheat has been alternated 

 with vetch and with summer fallow. 



8. It has not on our soil proven profitable as yet to manure 

 land that grows wheat alone. 



9. It has proven decidedly profitable to manure land for corn. 

 Not only has the yield of the corn crop been increased, but the effects 

 of the manure have been shown in the increased yield of the follow- 

 ing crops for at least four years. 



10. The best rotations will include some perennial grass in 

 which the land is laid down in sod for a short term of years. Pres- 

 ent results indicate that brome grass is well adapted to use in short 

 rotations. (S. Dak. Ag. Col. B. 98.) 



Methods of Rotation. What is the best method of crop rota- 

 tion? No man can tell that in advance. Farms differ in size and in 

 soil, and farmers differ in knowledge and skill, and seasons change. 

 It is safe to say that a good plan to follow is to let a long-growing 

 crop be succeeded by one that is quick growing. Corn is a long- 

 growing crop, gathered late, leaving the ground in excellent condi- 

 tion for a quick growing crop, such as oats or barley. In turn oats 

 or barley are off the ground in good time for fall wheat planting. 

 A good four-year rotation for grain farming is wheat, corn, oats, 

 and clover, with an extra catch crop of clover seeded on the wheat 

 land and plowed under the next spring for corn. Only the seed 

 crop of clover should be harvested the fourth year; and all produce 

 should be returned to the land except the grain and clover seed. 

 (Where hay is made for the work animals, manure should be re- 

 turned.) This system, with the addition of phosphate (and of 

 limestone where needed), will maintain the fertility of the soil. 



In live stock farming, two crops of corn followed by oats with 

 clover seeding, and a full clover crop the fourth year, is a good rota- 

 tion, and, if all the produce is used for feed and bedding and the 

 manure returned with but little loss, the supply of organic matter 

 and nitrogen will be maintained nearly as well as in grain farming; 

 and quite as well if timothy is seeded with the clover and one or two 

 additional years allowed for pasture. Only half as much phosphate 

 will be required as in the grain system, but limestone should also 

 be used where needed to make and keep the soil sweet. 



