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.