BuBEAu OP Agkicultuee. 243 



But one of the most interesting features of the work 

 thus far is the result with tobacco. For several years 

 past the Burley tobacco from these plots has averaged 

 better than that grown on the Experiment Farm in the 

 usual way, i. e., after pasture, and what is more to the 

 point, the tobacco when placed side by side with the 

 other in the market, sells for a better average price to 

 people who are good judges of tobacco, but know nothing 

 of the history of the crops. The whole secret of this 

 success with tobacco is systematic rotation, alternating 

 it with grass and clover, or with some other member of 

 the clover family. Forage is thus not only valuable. in 

 itself, but is essential to the economical and profitable 

 growing of other crops. 



Again, when a farmer finds he cannot get help to 

 work all his land, a pasture or meadow is a very con- 

 venient way to dispose of part of his holdings. By keep- 

 ing it in pasture, he can get something from it every 

 year, and yet save himself the necessity of plowing and 

 cultivating frequently. Grazing such land keeps it in 

 excellent condition, -too, so that when times change, and 

 a crop is to be grown, he has lost nothing, and finds 

 his land ready to yield better crops than it did when 

 put down in grass. This has been the resource of farm- 

 ers in countries where help is scarce. It is also an ex- 

 cellent way to save the land and keep winter rains from 

 leaching and washing away the fertilizing materials land 

 contains. 



We are thus dependent on the forage plants in 

 more ways than one. They provide the best part of our 

 crops; they feed both man and the domestic animals; 

 they are the chief source of our wealth. They maintain 

 the fertility of our soils. 



Having reminded you of their importance and re- 

 ferred very briefly to the reasons why they are im- 

 portant, I may be allowed to go a little farther into the 

 subject and bring it more closely home to you. 



Permanent Pasttjk.es. 



In the best stock raising regions of the world the 

 forage employed is of two general sorts — permanent 

 pasturage and annual forage crops. The permanent 



