Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-09-03
ARNT IsWLN., 9pyTTIa 4 H.
ROTATION IN CROPS.

Chester C1uufy. Pa June 25tb. 1870
=. D. SKINNER ESQ A Virginian correspondent
whose signature is i. T. i'm the American Farmer of The
io'h instant, expresses desire learn sometime on
me subject OF Rotation of Crops and as I think the
acucc IN ths district OF country, preferable TO any
nave witnessed elsewhere witake the liberty bror,,
10 State our most approved mode of farming in refer
ence to the particulars inquired Of Your corresnon
dent says his "cleared land is divided into four lots or
less than thirty acres each, of course says he "my
rotation OF crops is corn, wheat clover and then corn
again. <ic The land in Virginia must be of superior
quality, indeed, IL it stand such croppno vitbout
de'erioratlon The average size of our farms here is
about that OF your correspondents; bu; instead Of d
Vlding them in four fields, have at least half dozen
anu oeheve That seven or eight would be still bet
Ter We hold IL bad policy plough o., G fIrrow more
han can be well MANFRED and moreover that field
whch Is not richer at the conclusion of course of crop.
nan was al the commencement, has been niudcios-
managed me character OF the soil must Of course
be considered in determining on a system of croppno
AS hght, sandy soil would probably admit of the
same treatment as one in which clay greatly predom-
nated-though think the great art, i'm agriculture con-
ssts in gradually aneliorang the native condition of
soils by such additions will produce mellow loan.
In ms region our soil is stiff loam frequently with an
excess oil ciay-whict we qualify by the use ef limo
with excellent effect. We commence a course oC crons
by turning down the sod Of the oldest pasture field e
Iner iate IN autumn, or early in spring for the Indian
corn On the field thus pIoughed we immeJi,,oI,,
spread dressing of me-about 30 or 10 and of,o "a
bushels TO the acre-harrow il WE'LL and then miami Tho
corn ana take good Gaze Of it by u.ng the culiivator
~ ''e nc" u'yS, untll narvesf,--ater which il
requires no further dressing In the latter end of Sen.
ember we cut off the cornstalks near the ground sci
them IN upright shocks with band around each a., en-,
tam II until The fodder is dry, and and the grain oue
hard. In october and November, other business
permits we husk the corn, and carry both il and tho
stalks OIL the hodthe former 10 the cosn cribs snd IN
latter to sheds, stakes, 10 be fed TO cattle drno win
Ter In me ensuing sp ing plough up the corn roots
md SOW the field with barley or oats as the ouov o
land may authorize If the land Is not very COOL
onT Sili be best; but the soils become reo
S tertiIe, the oats will grow too rank and bareI,
oi Ter When the barley or oats are harvested
we va ,ubbles with heavy dressing of manure
az "v plough IL down. This is USUALLY done
~ 81 t.; a., g. some time the ground irwell harrow
FL 49, t, ~ Ming Of October we plough again
are snalIy narrowed and orchard grass seeds These
careful TO have the fields r8Si lie ,ar,nsrs arc
enough. This leaves the SUM-. H. w Su, ,.. - W
cutting the wheat, and moving ~ e. - O'"'t,O 10
In the beginning of March foowi, ',i " " gras
there Is an elegant growth OF young s e md'
land orchard gra,s, if sown-which M, enu un,o,"l
in order to fiji the sod with much v,uaSV uE", 70 oc
POSSIBILITY among the wheat stubbe This m, n'a"cI
pasture during the residue Of the season, and uiI'
year II Is TIT for the scythe. Our fields arc all frea
This manner in succession, and by having ak fields ~
is one IN indian corn, in barley. ono in wheat or
TN grass or hay and the remaining two for pasture hcr,
by allowing shift for the feeding stock: which IL cor
sdered advantageous. After wheat harvest fiero is
third pasture field obtained above mentioned If er
were or fields the ground would be allowed 10 lie r.
a'ongcr term in grass and when once made itch seve
al natural grasses (such pcas) succeed tho cifva
ed ones actually better for feeding cattle f,n os
introduced by art. This great ADVANTAGE in bv,
number OF fields cultivated in rotation and allowed
sufficient iime TO reposc In pasture. TOP DRESSING
lime con also be applied with advantage, when Geld