214 LESSONS IN AGRICULTURE 



map of the farm) at present in wheat will be sown to 

 clover this spring. After the wheat is cut in July, the 

 clover will be allowed to grow all summer and fall, and 

 to go into the winter as a cover crop, with all the ad- 

 vantages mentioned above. Next spring the clover 

 will be allowed to grow into blossom, and will then be 

 cut for hay. A second crop of the clover will spring 

 up, and we allow this to go to seed and to be thrashed 

 out in September, or to go into the winter as a cover 

 crop again. The following spring we shall plow under 

 the clover, and plant our field to corn. The following 

 September we may sow the field to wheat, and the next 

 spring return to clover again. This system of rota- 

 tion is well suited to the central states. Of course, there 

 may be special reasons for modifying it, and other 

 methods of rotation equally good will occur to the 

 thoughtful farmer. 



Results of rotation. During this rotation period a 

 cover crop has been plowed under, and a sod of clover 

 two years old has been turned into the soil. The clover 

 has added to the food supply for the two grain crops, 

 and has improved the texture of the soil by the humus 

 it will produce, besides it has furnished pasture, hay, 

 cover crop, and seed in the meantime. If the clover 

 sod be treated with lime and phosphoric acid, just be- 

 fore it is turned under for the corn crop, the yield of 

 the corn will be greatly increased, and the wheat fol- 

 lowing the corn in the rotation, will be favorably affected 

 by the additional fertilizer. 



