r 1868,
Dr. Voelcker, the able chemist of the Society, and formerly Professor
of Agricultural Chemistry, at the Royal Agricultural College at
Cirencester, England, has given us a paper "On the Causes of the
Benefits of Clover, as a preparatory Crop for Wheat." The paper has been
repeatedly and extensively quoted in this country, but has not been as
critically studied as the importance of the subject demands.

"Never mind all that," said the Deacon, "tell us what Dr. Voelcker
says."

"Here is the paper," said I, "and Charley will read it to us." Charley
read as follows:

"Agricultural chemists inform us, that in order to maintain the
productive powers of the land unimpaired, we must restore to it the
phosphoric acid, potash, nitrogen, and other substances, which enter
into the composition of our farm crops; the constant removal of organic
and inorganic soil constituents, by the crops usually sold off the farm,
leading, as is well known, to more or less rapid deterioration and
gradual exhaustion of the land. Even the best wheat soils of this
and other countries, become more and more impoverished, and sustain a
loss of wheat-yielding power, when corn-crops are grown in too rapid
succession without manure. Hence, the universal practice of manuring,
and that also of consuming oil-cake, corn, and similar purchased food on
land naturally poor, or partially exhausted by previous cropping.

"Whilst, however, it holds good as a general rule, that no soil can be
cropped for any length of time, without gradually becoming more and more
infertile, if no manure be applied to it, or if the fertilizing elements
removed by the crops grown thereon, be not by some means or other
restored, it is, nevertheless, a fact, that after a heavy crop of clover
carried off as hay, the land, far from being less fertile than before,
is peculiarly well adapted, even without the addition of manure, to bear
a good crop of wheat in the following year, provided the season be
favorable to its growth. This fact, indeed, is so well known, that many
farmers justly regard the growth of clover as one of the best
preparatory operations which the land can undergo, in order to its
producing an abundant crop of wheat in the following year. It has
further been noticed, that clover mown twice, leaves the land in a
better condition, as regards its wheat-producing capabilities, than when
mown once only for hay, and the second crop fed off on the land by
sheep; for,