162 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



possible, therefore, that a small application would be helpful. 

 Perhaps for this purpose high-grade sulfate of potash or 

 preferably double sulfate of potash and magnesia might 

 be used instead of the muriate as a top-dressing for the 

 clover. This is a point which it may yet be desirable to 

 consider. 



Upon the basis of the prices used in making the estimates, 

 there was a total loss upon Plot 1 1 in the first course of the 

 three-year rotation of $37.80, and a net gain* in the second 

 course of $81.80 per acre. Upon Plot 14 there was a total 

 net loss in the first three years of $8.(50, and a total net gain 

 in the second course of $44.50 per acre. Upon Plot 13 the 

 total net loss in the first three years of the rotation was 

 $14.70, and the net gain in the last tlu'ee 3 ears amounted to 

 $85.60 per acre. The average net profit for the three plots 

 for the last three years was $70.63 per acre, or $23.54 per 

 annum. After deducting the losses of the first course from 

 the gains of the second, there remains an average net profit 

 of $16.75 per acre annuall}^ for the entire period of six years. 



It is evident that the system of cropping and manm'ing is 

 rapidl}^ renovating the land, and in the case of soil in a less 

 impoverished and neglected condition good profits in the 

 first course of the rotation might reasonably be expected. 



Plan and General Results of the Four-year 



Rotation, f 



This rotation ditlers from the three-year rotation pre- 

 viously described, in the introduction of Indian corn. The 

 rotation is as follows : first 3'ear, Indian corn on clover sod ; 

 second year, potatoes ; third year, winter rye ; fourth year, 

 common red clover. 



Another important point of difierence between this rota- 

 tion and the three-year one is the employment of stable 

 manure, which is spread on the clover sod in the spring and 

 plowed under. Indian corn is then planted without further 

 manures. 



* This does not take into account taxes and interest on the investment. 

 t For the details of this rotation see Bulletin No. 75, Rhode Island Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station, Decemher, liXK). 



