No. 4.] CROP ROTATION. 93 



One thing wliicli I meant to tell you in regard to rotation is, 

 that it simplifies the amount of actual labor which you have 

 to devote to this branch of farming. You must plow these 

 fields only once in three years. Where you plant corn con- 

 tinuously you must plow every year. Of course in the 

 rotation you must plow for the corn crop, but the rest of the 

 work is done with harrows and cultivators, and it is done at a 

 minimum amount of strain on our farm teams. In plowing 

 for corn, spread the manure on the sod the last of April, and 

 let the clover grow until the first week in May, when it will 

 perhaps be -i or 5 inches high ; then plow and harrow three or 

 four times before you plant the corn. 



Question. It is claimed that there is more magnesia in 

 some limes than in others, and that the magnesia is poisonous 

 to plant life. Is that your experience ? 



Mr. Daniels. We have recently changed from ashes to 

 lime; but from what I can learn, any fresh-ground lime is 

 very good stuff to buy. 



Question. If you could get air-slaked lime, would it be of 

 less value than fresh-ground lime ? 



Mr. Daniels. I think so; but they are usually sold out 

 pretty well at the kilns, and do not have much on hand. 



Question. Do you use fertilizer on your corn ? 



Mr. Daniels. This year we used on one field 200 pounds 

 of high-grade fertilizer; and I think it an advantage, as it 

 starts the corn rapidly, and pushes it up out of the way of the 

 weeds and makes it easier to care for, I think there is suffi- 

 cient plant food in the soil without purchasing fertilizer. 

 Another advantage of the rotation system is, that you do not 

 have many weeds to contend with ; they are entirely destroyed 

 by the clover, so that the land is practically free from them 

 when the corn is planted. 



Question. Is not your corn too large to cut with a 

 harvester ? 



Mr. Daniels. I have seen a harvester cut corn 16 feet 

 high. We have eliminated the corn harvester, because we 

 believe it is more expensive than cutting by hand. 



Question. Have you ever had any experience with sowing 

 soy beans with your corn for ensilage ? 



