Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-04
AGRICULTURAL.


nkOtUtlOu III NEODSs
We comwend the following intelligent
remarks upon the above subject to our
ssericulral readers. The importance Of ro-
Y tating crops, we fear, is not sufficiently ap-
pcciatcd in this region. and the following
= timely illusions to the subject will not,
therefore. be inopportunc:
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
"A proper rotation Of crops is Of the
highest importance in agriculture. The
most productive soil in the valley OF the
Mississippi will become exhausted if cult
waited year after year in the same crop
Thisis illustrated all over the West, by the
deterioration Of the richest lands. Whilst
one crop requires large quantity Of GER
tain organic matters and but little OF 9th
ers.a different crop may draw from thu
Garth its substance in inverse proportions.
Although the cereal grains are all compos-
cd Of tho same substances and in nearly
the same proportions, one species will
flourish in the greatest perfection in soil
that will scarcely produce seed, if planted
ton to general rule Pin III 'lHs 'ssRs esScep p,
far the greater part Of the land, if proper
ly cultivated, will yield abundant harvcsts
Of the staple grains Of the temperate zones.
In consequence ofthc variety OF soils it is
f,,rass;t,5. =, I,v DOWN n nj. ~, III, 49,
III - iii land But gencraIIv nor,h was,
gftho Ohio river and the Stare. borlcr;ng
on il southeast will produce all kinds Of
grain ia the temperate zone, more or less
sbundantly. dependent on cultivation
On most land in the grain growing States
Of the West the proper rotation Of crops
should be-frst. the field should be planted
in corn. the next spring sown inoats or
barley, in the autumn in wheat, and In the
winter in clover This will give three
grain crops in succession. In clover the
ground should rempin about two years,
which viii make rotation of FIVE crops,
viz: three Of grain and two Of grass. If
the ground has been reduced by bad farm
ing and wants raising. tho oats or barley
crop should be omitted, and, when the corn
splowcd for the last time, clover should
be ssown. The following summer there
will be fine sward, which should not be
pastured but plowed down after harvest.
The vegetable matter thus turned down
and left to decomposc its equal to an ordi-
nary dressing OF barn-yard manure, and is
much cheaper.
By this or similar mode of farming, the
aggregate amount of grain raised on CIV
en- quantity of land will be greater in Sc
ries of years than if the ground is cul,iva-
ted in grain without intermission. In ad
Jiiiont to this. there is less labor in cutiva-
ting The soil. Every farmer knows that
by farming lands in grain crops for long
series Of years, the weeds spring up, and
the seed in the latter part of the summer,
utter the crop is laid by, and polIu,e the
ground to such a degree that it requires,
particularly in corn, incessant blowing I'M
Ill the crop is well grown, to keep the
weeds from obtaining the mastery and
smo,herlng the crop.
Clover, II properly husbanded, has
great tendency to destroy weeds. Its
growth IN the spring is quick, and, by over
shadowing nox'ous plants. partially smoth-
ers them. II mowedin the latter part of
june, the weeds are cut before seeding
and thus destroyed. 1t cut again In Sep
tcmber Tor seed, such seeds as had sprung
up after the first moving are destroyed
also. The second year there will scarcely
be any voeasien the clover to dcs-
troy the weeds; but 1t may be Pastured,
and lew weeds will arrive at maturity II
there is stock enough Kept on the ground
to eat the grass. The few weeds that
may spring up will be trodden down by
cattle or otherwise destroyed before seed
ing.
In the spring, turn down the clover and
plant in corn. A few rotations of crops in
II. r. IL L T. l..