State Convention—Renovation of Soils. 307 
to set free the plant-food that was before in a locked-up condition r 
and that plant-food may be drawn from the subsoil below and from 
the air above. Summer-fallowing was formerly practiced more than 
now. The same results can be reached, and a greater amount of 
plant-food placed in the soil by growing a crop of red-clover—its 
deep, penetrating roots disintegrate the soil to a greater depth than 
can be reached by the plow—brings from the subsoil and places 
within reach of the grain crops to follow, elements of plant-food. 
CORN 
is an important crop in our system of rotation, and should generally 
follow clover, and made to take the place of summer-fallow. A 
clean, well-cultivated corn-crop, following clover, leaves the land in 
good condition for the crops of small-grain to follow—corn is re¬ 
garded by many as the least exhaustive of the cereal grain, that 
during its period of growth up the time of ripening its seeds, it 
takes more nutriment from the air than from the soil. Corn, as a 
renovating crop, when sowed broadcast and plowed under, is placed 
next to clover. 
J. J. Thom as, of New York, says in a communication to the 
agricultural department on this subject, that corn sowed broad¬ 
cast and cut green for fodder appears to add to, rather than dimin¬ 
ish, the fertility of the soil. Of three successive crops, without ma¬ 
nure, each was larger than the preceeding one. 
George 0. Tiffany, of Milwaukee, in his experience of growing 
corn for green-fodder, confirms this statement. I think, however, 
that where corn has been grown for green-fodder, and removed 
from the land, and succeeded by grain-crops, the yield of the grain 
has been diminished. The fact that successive crops of corn for 
fodder can be taken from the same land with undiminished yield, 
makes it invaluable as a soiling-crop for dairymen and others to 
feed during the summer droughts. It can be grown on lands near 
the yards and stables continuously. 
PASTURE. 
By a short rotation for pastures on oui tillable lands we can keep 
more farm-stock, as a much greater amount of feed is obtained 
from newly-seeded pastures, than from old or permanent pastures; 
besides stock is kept in a more healthy condition. Old pastures 
