Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 78.djvu/265

Rh oat straw, and all clover hay and straw were returned to the same fields on which they grew, thus following finally the complete prescription.

A regular three-year rotation was also begun, one third of each field being in corn, one third in oats, and one third in clover, each year; and the next year, corn followed the clover, clover followed the oats, and oats followed the corn.

As an average of the three years, when only partial treatment was used, the yields were as follows:

As an average of these three years, compared with the former record, it was seen that the yield was 4 bushels higher on Field A, 6 bushels higher on Field B, and 8 bushels higher on Field C.

"I think I feel somewhat better," said the King, "and I should like to continue the treatment at least for a few more years."

The oat crop followed corn and thus Queen Clover was compelled to sit at the third table in the rotation, and she had had the full benefit of the limestone and phosphorus for only one year; so she was glad to have a further chance to try the treatment.

As an average of the next six years, the yields per acre of corn were as follows:

At the end of these years the King had his accounts all figured up.

"Field A has gone down again," said he to the Queen. "It has lost the 4 bushels it had gained by the improved rotation."

"Yes," replied the Queen, "and I don't like that field a bit. I almost starve when I try to live there, and Field B is growing poor, too."

"So I see," said the King, "by 2 bushels, although limestone has maintained the yield 4 bushels higher than Field A; and where both limestone and phosphorus are used, the average yield is 24 bushels better than without them. That reminds me of old times, my dear. When I was a young bachelor, a yield of 87 bushels per acre was not uncommon."

"You might try 'baching' it again," suggested Clover. "You know I'm not considered of much value, and the oat crop isn't worth very much. Surely, three crops of corn would be worth more than one each of corn, oats and clover."

"No, no," said the king. "I do not care to repeat my experience as a bachelor; and, by the way, I have never confessed to you the real condition I was in when you consented to be my queen. The facts are that