The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-07-13

can be attacked at the right stage OF
growth without any danger of pud.
ding the soil, due to the presence of
an over-supply of moisture. hence all
the work Of cultivation can be done
with horse cultivators.
Systems Of Rotation for Sandy Soils.
Due to the wide distribution Of
sandy soils in Wisconsin. and the diff
ferent conditions and sentiment in
each locality, it Is impossible to rec.
ommend a form of rotation for univer.
sal adoption. The one important fact,
however, that all sandy soils are low
in fertility and especially in nitrogen
generally holds. For this reason the
acreage Of grasses, cereals and cult
waited crops should be chosen with
this in mild. understanding thorough
ly that the nitrogen supply will de
pend on the growing and handling o!
legumes. In laying out the land the
cultivated crops should be grown ir
strips about 20 rods wide and alter
mated with strips of grass or grair
to prevent the sand from blowing.
If the farmer raises very little stock
a three-year system Of rotation may
be practiced, putting one-third Of the
field into cultivated crops like corn
and potatoes; the second third int
a grain crop, either rye or oats, seed
ed with mammoth clover; and the last
thirJ MI clnuar nlnuinu under the
second cutting for green manure. In
this system it is absolutely necessary
to pillow under the last cutting of
clover in order to supply nitrogen and
humus to the succeeding cultivated
crop and if barnyarC manure Is very
scarce this is good time to apply
commercial phosphate. and potash
fertilizers.
If farmer is inclined to keep more
stock this rotation may be extended
one year, dividing the area Of the farm
irto quarters and leaving the clover
field another year for pasture. This
makes 1t four rotation "a follows
first year, cultivated crop; second
year, grain; third year, clover; fourth
year, pasture The manure if it is
quite we'll decomposed. thus benefit.
ting the succeeding cultivated crop In
directly by an increased growth of
clover to be turned under in the fall.
Alfalfa in the Rotation.
In a five.year system Of rotation it
becomes possible to introduce alfalfa,
and no farmer managing sandy soil
should fail to try this crop. The in.
PRODUCTION of this crop makes it desir-
able to leave the field in alfalfa three
years out of every five with the other
two years given to cultivated crops
and grain This system makes it nee.
essary to raise considerable stock
in order to consume the alfalfa
thus supply the soil with large
quantities of manure. Manure
should be applied at two differ ent
times in the rotation, the first appli-
cation being made to the cultivated
crop and the second to the first year
of alfalfa This form Is very desira
BILE with the exception that 1t does not
provide for any pasture, hence 1t may
be well to run the four and five-yea,
systems together.
In all three systems which are sub.
ject to slight changes to meet loca
conditions the farmer should make i:
rule to keep the ground covered
during the winter and consequently
such crops as vetch or rye should be-
drilled or seeded between the corn OF
potato rows before the crops are har
vested This would make it necessar,
tc harvest the potatoes with forf
instead of using an improved digger
hence leaving the soil more firm. u
II Is difficult to start clover or alfalfa
they should not De seeded with &
| nurse crop the first few years, and I
they fail at any time, due to weather
| conditions such crops az soy beanl
or COW peas should be grown In theil
| place. The farmer in following thes,
| systems of rotation will have less o
| his farm in cultivated crops than =
renerally found. and he Will rails,
! more stock to consume his forag,
crops, both Of watch factors will ten'
| 70. put his soil in a better condition
both physically and chemically