Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-04-23
AGRTCU 1T u r E.
ROTATION OF CROPS.

Il
! suppose that ''Virginia" would have noI
objection to ones suggesting small alte-
ration in the arrangement of his ''rotation''
crops. We propose then that the clover
crop intervene between the oats and the
wheat crops. To many this may appear to-
be small matter, but experience satisfies
me that where wheat is the ''Staple CROP II
is of great importance. We all know the
uncertainty of our wheat crop, and particu-
larly so in Oats stu56ze.
am going here, sir, to make STRONG
declaration, but not stronger than true ]
say that within forty years experience and
observation, know of no instance IN which
a wheat crop failed in this rotation to pro-
duce to the full amount all that could have
been reasonably expected from H. indeed
| might say that in several instances 1t went
beuond nv expectations. ] will therefore
by your permission suggest the following
arrangement of his s'course of crops" keep
ing in view the fact stated-that ''wheat Is
our staple"
1st Corn. Instead of applying Gall the
coarse manure made" apply the lime alter
the ground is broken up, and cultivate the
corn so as to keep the lime as near the sur
face as possible.
Cd. Oats with clover seed. Run light
harrow after the seed so as to give it su-
perfcial covering, or let the seed be sown
before the cross narrowing. Put no roller
on it, or you will endanger the clover crop,
should it be hot season.
Sd. Glover. As soon as circumstances
will admit in the spring or early summer,
haul out and spread over the field ''all the
coarse manure made.o Turn your cattle
on it when in bloom, and in July turn the
trampled clover and manure under with the
plough, and let it remain until the soluble
parts are carried into the soil by the rains !;
then turn the stubble and manure down
with the plough, and leave it lie until two
or three weeks before seeding, when it can
be stirred, and at the proper time put in
with the harrow by crossing the ploughing.
4th. SoaO CLOVER seed IN February, so that
the late frosts may give it proper cover
ing. Don't fear the frosts killing the young
clover. All we have to fear south of 400
is our hot dry summers. By having the
seed covered and an early termination, ii
gets depth of root so as to endure heat
and drought
9Th. Glover. Now if your want of pro-
vender compels you; if not, turn in your
stock when in full bloom, that they may
tramp down more than they eat. -.
9th. Clover. Pasture as above and break
up in July or August, and put your wheat
in at the proper time with a hesaEn- nHl''""-
7I7. Sow clover seed and the two fol-
lowing years pasture, so as to leave as much
vegetable matter on the ground as possible.
Then prepare for corn by lining. In this
course 40 bushels of lime TO the acre will
be as much as is required.
1t will be seen that Rye does not enter
into the course The uncertainty of this
crop is the principal cause why it is left
out If, however, there should be dispo-
silion to venture it, it can be introduced
after the last crop of wheat. -
The rotation here presented avoids what
conceive great error, namely, making thei
ground too mezzoao for aOheat. If it were
not from the fear of having already tres
passed on your limited pages, which may
be much better occupied, could give some
Stubborn facts, in the range of my expe-I
rience even on clayey lands, that should
set this matter to rest in American agricul-
lure.
If ''Virginia" prefers sowing wheat in
oats stubble let him only plough once.
Either haul out and spread the manure as
soon as the oats crop is off, and let it re-
main until the soluable parts are carried
INTO the soil by the rains then turn the
stubbe and manure down with the plough
or plough Immediately, and SO soon as
the shattered oats have sprouted, harrow,
and any convenient time between that and
seeding, the manure can be hauled and
spread, and the wheat put in with heavy
cultivator followed by harrow.
Writing of Hon. Henry Clay's farm,
correspondent of the N. Y. Tribune says:
The carriage course leading to the house,