206 DRY FARMING 



pounds. Since from eight to ten tons are taken from 

 each acre the stock-carrying capacity of the land is 

 readily seen to be tremendously increased, as from two 

 to two-and-a-half head of mature animals to the acre 

 can be comfortably carried through the winter. 



"This rotation has several distinct advantages, par- 

 ticularly for those areas where well-tilled summerfal- 

 lows result in too great a growth of straw the following 

 year. The fall cultivation given the summer plowed 

 sod is sufficient to produce a maximum crop without 

 carrying so much fertility and moisture as to cause 

 the crop to lodge seriously. 



"The application of farm-yard manure at the rate of 

 12 tons per acre maintains soil fertility while the plow- 

 ing under of the sod once in six years adds root fiber 

 to the soil. One advantage in connection with the ap- 

 plication of manure on the sod consists in the fact that 

 during the rainy season weed seeds contained in the 

 manure germinate, but fail to develop for the reason 

 that the manure soon dries out and the young plants 

 are destroyed. 



"There being but one year of the rotation in hay a 

 maximum crop results; the application of the manure 

 on the sod induces a free growth of grass for pasture, 

 both the year the application is made and the one im- 

 mediately following. ... As has already been pointed 

 out, the year following the breaking of the sod there 

 has also been produced a maximum crop every year the 

 rotation has been under way. If good cultivation is 

 given land under this system the fifth and sixth years 

 also produce satisfactory results." 



163. Rotations with Sweet Clover. — A few farmers are 

 testing a two-year rotation consisting of wheat seeded 



