216 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
ited number of years, would be of more avail to him than all 
the traditions of Deacon Hayseedinhishair from antiquity to 
date. 
Transportation to market, enters largely into the economy 
of farming, and should be regarded in making plans. Aside 
from market, and the disturbances caused by war at home and 
abroad, almost any decade in the past will demonstrate the 
uniformity that can be relied upon in adopting a plan extend¬ 
ing over a period of ten years in the future. There are always 
a few sharp men who claim that they keep an eye open, which 
can penetrate the future, and can adapt themselves to coming 
changes ; yet in most cases they are successful after the fact 
oftener than before. The rule that the more days the farmer 
works on his farm the larger his bank account will be, meets 
with fewer exceptions than the fulfillment of prophesy in farm¬ 
ing. Should the result of the first and second year disappoint 
expectations, while the adjoining neighbor is successful, taking 
his chances without a plan, you will then require pluck to 
continue to the end ; a quality in character which cannot be 
grown from the soil, or imported from any county known to 
produce a surplus. 
The extent of land set apart to grain must be with a view to 
securing only sufficient for the raising and fattening the ani¬ 
mals on the farm. The area of corn must be consistent with 
the demands for fattening purposes. Oats, wheat and barley 
ought to be raised least of all, as they consume largely the 
phosphates which it is so difficult to supply. Under a system 
of grain raising with but few animals, it is very doubtful 
whether you can supply the necessary mineral elements, by 
the best possible management, from the same farm. Clover 
and herdsgrass must occupy the ground in turn with other 
crops, clover as the great fertilizer drawing from the extreme 
depths of the soil, and crevices in the clay and rocks where no 
other root cr fiber penetrates. Owing to improved facilities 
for threshing and cleaning, clover, with its known value as a 
fertilizer, has already assumed a prominent place in agricul¬ 
ture. A crop of it plowed under, after the seed has ripened, 
