No. 4.] CROP ROTATION. 87 



a maximum crop on this field, ready for the silo about June 

 1 to 10. Starting a field of clover in this way, one can get 

 quick results, thus making the first cycle in our three-year 

 rotation. 



After we have harvested our corn by placing it in the silo, — 

 you see I advocate the use of the silo, which we consider very 

 essential to profitable dairying, — we harrow the corn stubble 

 with a cutaway and spring-tooth harrow, api)ly one-half ton of 

 lime, sow a bushel and a quarter of rye, and harrow it all in 

 as early as possible, which with us is usually about the 1st of 

 October. In the spring, early in April, if the soil is ready, we 

 will take 10 acres of this remaining 20 where we have sown 

 the rye, and harrow over thoroughly with a spike-tooth 

 harrow or heavy weeder, sow 8 quarts of mammoth or medium 

 red clover seed, and roll, after going over once more with the 

 weeder to cover the seed. I think at this time if we use lime 

 instead of ashes in our soil treatment, that we shall need to 

 apply 150 to 200 pounds of muriate of potash to the acre. 

 Clover is a lover of potash, and we must supply it in some 

 form other than in the manure from our stables, if we wish 

 to grow the maximum crops of clover. This treatment with 

 the harrow may at first seem a little harsh for the rye, but 

 it will soon recover and make a splendid growth, and the 

 clover, if the season is right, will be ready to take posses- 

 sion as soon as the rye is removed. A portion of the rye we 

 place in the silo, cut into half-inch lengths and mixed with the 

 clover from a previous year's seeding. We find the best en- 

 silage is made by using one-third rye and two-thirds clover, so 

 that the balance of the rye crop can be cut for hay or left to 

 grow for grain. With this latter practice, liowever, there is 

 risk of not having a good clover growth if the season is dry, as 

 the rye takes too much water from the soil. There is still 

 another chance for a clover growth on that field this season, if 

 we find the rye has killed out the clover, and that is to plow 

 after the rye is harvested, spread 10 or 12 loads of manure to 

 the acre, and sow 8 quarts of clover and 2 ounces of turnip 

 seed to the acre, at any time from July 20 to August 1. A 

 fine crop of turnips can be harvested, with the possibility of a 

 magnificent crop of clover the next season. I think the 

 practice of some dairymen, of cutting the rye with the reaper 



