ROTATION OF CKOrS. 67' 



years ; four in grass and four In cultivated crops. The first crop, on 

 breaking up the sod, may be either Indian or broom-corn, according 

 to the character of the soil ; the next, rye or wheat. Oats are not as 

 good, unless they are cut before they are ripe and used as hay ; for, 

 they are very liable to blast, when sown upon the partially rotted 

 turf. An excellent plan — when it can be readily carried out — is to 

 turn under the stubble, from which the grain is taljen, near the latter 

 part of July ; and, then, to sow turnip seed in drills, putting fine 

 compost into the drills ; or, when this is not to be had, ashes or 

 guano may be strewed upon the top of the hills before the plants are 

 up, which gives them a vigorous start. Turnips, if they are kept 

 clean, will leave the land in fine condition for the succeeding crop, 

 which may be roots ; or, if these are not cultivated, corn again. I 

 have known corn to do remarkably well, coming as a third crop ; in 

 one instance, producing fifty bushels per acre ; and this, on land nat- 

 urally not at all favorable to its production. By the end of this 

 year, if there has been proper cultivation, the land will be ready 

 for grass seed, which may be sown, the next spring, in connection 

 with oats or barley. 



In all that has been said, thus far, I suppose a liberal supply of 

 manure. No good farmer will think of conducting his operations 

 without it; but a few words in closing, on its proper application, 

 may not be inappropriate. In the last course of which I have been 

 speaking, it is supposed that manure is applied to both of the hoed 

 crops ; that is to say, in the first and third year. In* both instances, 

 it should be plowed in ; because, in the first year, if so applied, it 

 helps materially in the decomposition of the sod, and so promotes 

 the growth of the crop ; and, in the third year, if it is buried with, 

 the plow, it will be brought to the surface again the next spring, 

 well fitted to be used by the grass seeds. Much of our land pays 

 well for manuring in the hill, in addition to Avhat is plowed in. All 

 cold lands, especially, need this, in order to give the corn a vigorous 

 start. Ashes and plaster answer well for this purpose, used upon an 

 inverted sward; but if corn is grown as a third crop, it is better to 

 use the compost. In laying down lands to grass, great good would 

 result from the use of ashes, plaster, and perhaps lime. 



I close, here, not because the subject is exhausted. My object 

 has been to excite inquiry and improvement in this branch of our 

 profession. 



