10 BULLETIN 625, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



previous season is used for hay, seed, or pasture, on ground which 

 will be planted to spring crops the following year. The third year of 

 the rotation is devoted to the growing of winter wheat, spring wheat, 

 oats, or barley. Winter wheat, as already stated, is usually seeded 

 on land which grew clover until about May 1 and was then sumnier- 

 fallowed, although spring crops may be used. Spring wheat, oats, 

 barley, or field peas give best results on ground from which the clover 

 was used for hay, seed, or pasture. 



Farmers who wish to grow intertilled crops instead of summer 

 fallowing their land may use one of the following systems : 



First year. Second year. Third year. 



Corn, beans, potatoes, or Winter wheat, spring Clover for hay, seed, or 

 field peas planted in rows wheat, oats, barley, or pasture, 

 and intertilled. field peas. (Grain is 



seeded as a nurse crop 

 with clover.) 



The first year of these cropping systems is devoted to the growing 

 of corn, beans, potatoes, or field peas planted in rows and inter- 

 tilled. In those sections where the climatic conditions are unfavor- 

 able for growing corn or beans the farmers must depend on potatoes 

 or field peas for an intertilled crop. During the second year of this 

 cropping system the ground from which the crop can be harvested 

 in time for fall seeding may be used for winter wheat. The pea 

 and bean crops may always be harvested in time to permit fall 

 seeding, but unless the corn crop is cut for ensilage or for fodder and 

 hauled from the field, spring grain must be sown. Winter grain is 

 sometimes seeded, however, in the standing corn with a one-horse, 

 five-hoe grain drill, and the corn crop husked from the standing stalk 

 in the usual manner. As a rule, potatoes may be dug early enough 

 to permit fall seeding unless they are very late in maturing. Spring 

 wheat, oats, barley, or field peas all do exceptionally well on land 

 which was devoted to intertilled crops the previous season. In 

 using any of the above crops it must be remembered that they are 

 to be sown as a nurse crop with clover. The third year of the rota- 

 tion the clover is used for hay, seed, or pasture. It is very important 

 that clover land be plowed in the fall when possible to do so. 



FOUR-YEAR CROPPING SYSTEMS. 



Many farmers in the above-described territory wish to summer 

 fallow or grow a cultivated crop on the land once in four years. In 



