156 AGRICULTURE. 



tilizing successful. For example, if stable com- 

 post be applied immediately preceding crops of 

 small grain — as, wheat or oats — it may injure the 

 crop by tending to produce straw rather than 

 grain ; while if it be applied before corn is 

 planted, it will result in an increased yield of 

 corn, and a better condition of the soil for sub- 

 sequent crops (see Fig. 27, "Showing Effect of 

 Nitrate," p. 80). 



^._ROTATION AS AFFECTING THE ENEMIES 



OF PLANTS. 



I. Eradicates Weeds. 



Short rotations with wheat and clover tend 

 to eradicate weeds. If a field becomes overrun 

 with certain weeds — as, the broad-leafed plan- 

 tains — they may be eradicated in a few years by 

 short rotations of winter wheat, or rye, with 

 clover. The clover should be sown upon the 

 wheat early in the spring. The wheat will not 

 be damaged by the weeds, as they do not seed 

 before it is cut, while the same will be true of 

 the clover the following year. The clover stub- 

 ble should be plowed at once to avoid the seed- 

 ing of the weeds. 



It would then be well to thoroughly prepare 

 the soil and put it in turnips, or some hoed crop, 

 until time to sow the fall wheat, when the 

 ground may be prepared by harrowing. 



