346 



SYSTEMS OF FARMING 



izing materials. On only a comparatively few stock farms is there 

 sufficient manure produced by the feeding of the crops raised to 

 permit the application of about fourteen or sixteen tons of manure 

 per acre once in three or even four years on all the cultivated fields. 

 Even when this is done unavoidable losses occur, especially of 

 phosphorus, which compels recourse to outside sources, particu- 

 larly the mineral commercial fertilizers. 



Grain Farming and Stock Farming Compared. — ^Parallel to 

 the system of grain farming already mentioned, the Ohio Station 

 is running a system of stock farming in which the same amounts 

 of acid phosphate and limestone are used and the same crops are 

 raised. All the crops, except the wheat and whatever clover seed 

 is produced, are either fed to livestock or passed into the manure 

 as beddmg.^ The manure made each year is applied to the corn 

 land. These two tests occupy nine acres which are divided into 

 two parts — one-half of which is farmed in livestock and the other 

 in grain farming. The experiment is so planned that each crop is 

 grown every year. The animals are kept in a large box stall, 

 heavily bedded on a cement floor under cover, so that all manure, 

 both solid and liquid, is saved and applied to the land m 

 the spring. 



The results for the first eight years are given in the table. 

 Gram Farming vs Stock Farming m Maintaining Soil Fertility 



Crops 



Average Yields per Acre 

 m Gram Farming 



Average Yields per Acre 

 in Stock Farming 



Gram 

 or Seed 



Hay, Stover 

 or Straw 



Gram 

 or Seed 



Hay Stover 

 or Straw 



Com 

 Soybeans. 

 Wheat 

 Clover 



Bu 

 586 

 19 

 28 7 



Notg 



Tons 



None harvested 

 87 

 132 

 gathered 



Bu 



64 6 

 219 



32 4 



Tons 



155 

 100 

 155 

 2 23 



Relative profits were not discussed, since these tests are not 

 concluded. The amount of labor and equipment required in these 

 two systems of farming are important factors to be considered in 

 determining net profits. 



At the Illinois Station similar tests have been carried on since 

 1902.^ The crops grown in rotation, soil treatment and yields 

 are given in the next table. 



4 Ohio Station Bulletin 328 



5 University of Illinois Bulletins 125 and 219 and Circular 193. 



