18 FORAGE CROPS 
in the early fall and the land left bare of vegeta- 
tion until spring, when it is seeded with oats with- 
out further manuring. After the oats are harvested 
the land either grows weeds, which in this case are 
of some value, or is plowed and allowed to lie bare 
until.September or October, when it is seeded with 
wheat. An even less rational method, from the 
standpoint of economical use of the manure, be- 
cause it results in loss of fertility elements, is to 
apply manure to the wheat instead of the corn. 
By this system, but one, or at most two hay crops 
(if the second crop is harvested) are taken, and 
the land has but one year of partial rest in four; 
besides, there are two periods in the rotation when 
the land is bare, and suffers loss by leaching, 
blowing or washing, and possible lowering of “con- 
dition” due to the destruction of organisms. 
The above rotation is inexpensive of labor, and 
may prove profitable for grain-growing for a long 
time, on lands originally very fertile; but the fer- 
tility may be improved by the introduction of 
cover-crops and catch-crops, which will prevent 
possible losses of constituents, but which need not 
reduce the number of grain crops, and besides add 
one or more crops of hay. To accomplish this, the 
first crop (corn) may be seeded with the rye or 
wheat before, or immediately after, it is harvested. 
The rye will absorb and retain the nitrates formed 
in late summer and not used by the corn, and 
