Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-08-17
From the GeneSee Iarmrr.
ROTATION OF CROPS.

| have ever considered the notion which has
been advanced IN some OF the English agricultural
Journals, that the matter thrown oli in the soil by !,
species OF plants is POISONOUS other plants of the
same kind, il grown N succession, as most un-
philosophical, and contrary 10 taci. Some OF the
advocates OF Il doctrine OF an absolute necessity III
all cases for rotation OF crops found IN this sup
position OF excremcnliious poison, very conve-
nient argument for thcir syStem, and hence II has
obtained currency both al home aud in this
country. Farmers however, Of all men, should be
the last TO be welded to theory rs theirs is a pro-
fession emnenty practical. II IS too late in the
day to :" doubt that the system OF rotation in
crops, under proper circumstances, Is OF the first
importance in agriculture lis effect, hoy ever
does not depend on the extinction of exefcmrnti-
tious poison, but by renewal Of the proper food
of plants. That the influence of rotation has been
overrated bv some English and American theoriSt,
will not be disputed and when the time comes 10
underrac, OF which some symptoms be dis
cerned already it is at least probable il viii be rs
injudoiously decred. That com will erow in sue
cession for half century ON the Genesee flats
wheat for thirty years some of the favored
wheat lands OF Nest New Aorh=anl oats Tor
twenty years ON some ot the slaty soils of Cata-
raugus, without much diminuton ri quantity | can
readily believe but exceptions like these To the
system OF rotation only demonstrate the propr,,ly
OF the course in general To Us il appears the doc
trine OF rotation is founded on very simple princ-
Piles, capable OF easy aud successful application,
and hardly leading room Tor doubt or dispntation.
That plants during their growth do take up, and
appropriate as nourshment, very different mate
rails from the same soil, will not be questioned by
any one who has paid the least attention 10 vege-
table physiology. For instance, does the pine APP
pie the orange take much SilcN from the earth
as the bamboo or the rattan, some OF the species
oil which have an outer covering 50 hard rs To
strike fire when struck together or 10 select a
more familiar example, does the linden contain ms
much OF the sal, called potash as the elm or beech
and how does it happen that while 1000 pounds
of NORWOOD yields 7S4 lbs OF saline matter, the
box and the aspen produce but 70 This faculty
oftaking up particular substances as food and the
necessity of the supply, holds good in the cereal
grasses, such wheat, rye, barley in corn and
oats in roots, such potatoes, carrots turnips,
bcets, &c. They all find and assimilntc as non.
ishmcnt different ingredients from the same
or appropriate them in very different propor ~
Ii the soil OF my farm ahounds in those al,
essential 10 the production OF wheat | n
crop after crop from the same land and III, :,
needless and this course of succoss ~,
be successful in exact ratio to the cont, ~,
OF proper food If, however, the propz =
the wheat plant is limited, rotation OF G. IND
manuring, Dy winch tis quality can be restored is
Indispensable 1t is with corn, oats. and most
other plants. The rich alluvion of the t,cncsee
flats is apparently nexhaustiblo BY corn perhaps
90 parts in 100 suited 10 the growth of tina,
important article but this fact does not prove tina,
other and less favored soils cannot be exhausted
will not be benefited by rotation. have see,
some of the oat lands spoken OF by Mr.. Allen in a
former number OF the Farmer and feel a plcasur,
in bearing testimony to the general correctness o
his views, and business of his remarks vet the
facts he has stated furnish perhaps one of the siron-
gcst arguments in proof that different plants take NJ
different materials from the same soil, and there
fore that rotation must, in most cases be adj.
vaniagcous. Those lands in the southern tie,
of counties of which MIR. Allen has spoken as pro.
ducng sucl, abundant crops of grass and oats. are
it is well known, worthless for wheat the flour OF
the little they do produce being of very inferior
quality, and no mora resembling that of the coun-
ties bordering the lakes, than does the rye flour
Of the eastern states. | should put but little con-
60ence in the theoretical notions of any man, who
cssld imagine that the farming of whole country
<an be made to conform TO a single ,ysteni or pat
tesH There Is almost infinite variety IN the
oii2insl ingredients Of soils and tleir proper
mons, and The mode of treatment, be ,nliciou.,