CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



desirable when consistent with profit, but, as we 

 have seen, it is not an absolute essential. 



An Old Succession of Crops. In the corn belt 

 of the northern states some time-honored crop- 

 rotations have been formed by corn, oats, wheat, 

 clover, and timothy. The number of years de- 

 voted to the grain and to the sod has varied with 

 the soil and the desire of its owner. A common 

 succession is corn one year, oats one year, wheat 

 one year, clover and timothy one year, timothy 

 one year a five years' rotation that has much 

 substantial success behind it. Such a rotation 

 is wholly reasonable and in accord with the nature 

 of things. Every year furnishes some organic 

 matter for the soil in roots and stubble, and all 

 the produce of four years out of the five may be 

 fed on the farm. There is one cash crop, or two 

 if the price of the clear timothy hay justifies 

 sale. 



The manure may be hauled upon the sod when 

 other work does not press, and it goes where the 

 crop is one that prefers fresh manure, be that the 

 grass or the corn. There is plenty of time after 

 the corn to prepare for oats, and after the oats 

 to prepare for wheat. The preparation for the 

 wheat is sufficient for the clover and timothy. 



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