What Ever Happened to the Baxter Place? By Mr. Mallory

rotation  Rotation is the movement in a series so different crops grow in the same field to preserve the soil.

rotation  The south field—the biggest and flattest— was planted in rotation with corn one year and barley the next.  To keep nutrients in the soil, farmers must plant their crops in rotation.

surplus  A surplus is an amount greater than what is needed.

surplus  The west field, the smallest stretch, was reserved for crops the Baxters might want for their own, with surplus for sale.  We gave away our surplus coats, sheets, and blankets to the homeless shelter this winter.

preserved  Preserved means to protect in order to last longer.

preserved  She also grew vegetables, and those that didn’t get eaten right away got canned and preserved for the long winter or taken to the market along with the eggs.  Some ancient civilizations preserved meat by drying it in the sun and salting it.

hired  Hired means paid to work or employed.

hired  Jim and Wally were the hired hands— farmers who work at farming other people’s land.  The hired clown was paid to do face painting.

partial  Partial means not the total or part of something.

partial  Sue Ann won a partial scholarship to forestry college.  We made a partial payment because we couldn’t pay the whole sum.

reluctantly  Reluctantly means unwillingly or with hesitation.

reluctantly  So Sara, too, reluctantly agreed.  Reluctantly, the little boy turned off the television and went to bed.