THE ROTATION OF CROPS. 119 



This custom is now rapidly changing, and for the bet- 

 ter; viz., to manure the corn, and to provide artificial 

 fertilizers for the oats and wheat. The latter method is 

 more reasonable, since it permits of the removal of the 

 manure from the yard to the field during the leisure of 

 winter and spring, and the increased profit from its use 

 is received in the year of its application. It is more 

 economical of labor and capital. In all the rotations 

 where clover follows wheat, it is usually seeded in the 

 growing wheat in early spring. 



No. 2 is particularly adapted to light lands, as it 

 admits of a more frequent repetition of the renovating 

 clover crop. It is objectionable, however, where the 

 seasons are short, since to wait for seeding the wheat 

 until after the corn is fit to harvest does not allow it to 

 make sufficient top to withstand the winter well ; besides, 

 the early removal of the corn is very laborious and expen- 

 sive. 



No. 3 is a typical rotation, since the crops of cereals 

 are separated by a root or clover crop. This rotation 

 corresponds to the Norfolk system, so widely adopted in 

 England; viz., turnips, barley, clover, wheat. In many 

 sections of this country the potatoes are the best paying 

 crop. The corn is planted on a clover-sod, and yard- 

 manure liberally applied; the corn, being a gross feeder, 

 utilizes sufficient food for its normal growth from the 

 partial decay of the manure, roots, and stubble, and the cul- 

 tivation of the corn puts the land in excellent tilth for 

 the potatoes. Artificial manures are mainly used for this 

 crop, frequently in large amounts, the residues from which 

 guarantee maximum crops of both wheat and clover. 



