CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



tion. One half of it is applied every second year. 

 The corn gets one half because it can use it to 

 advantage. The oat crop that follows finds 

 enough fertility because the soil is good. Next 

 in the rotation is the wheat, and the wheat and 

 timothy and clover plants can use fertilizer with 

 profit. There is no change in its character be- 

 cause it is the soil that is getting the assistance, 

 and not primarily just one crop in a rotation. 

 The land in this experiment that is well fertilized 

 is more productive than it was thirty years ago, 

 although no manure has been applied, and it is 

 the general productive condition that assures 

 good yields, and not chiefly any one application 

 of fertilizer. 



Fertilizer for Grass. A fertile soil will make 

 a good sod. A thinner soil should have a liberal 

 dressing of complete fertilizer at seeding time, 

 and the formula that has been suggested is ex- 

 cellent for this purpose. If a succession of timothy 

 hay crops is desired, the problem of maintaining 

 fertility is wholly changed. The nitrogen sup- 

 plied by the clover is soon exhausted, and the 

 timothy sod must be kept thick and heavy until 

 broken, or the soil will not have its supply of 

 organic matter maintained. Nitrogen must be 



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