Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-01-12
Thoughss ON the Rotation of Crops.

An old farmer once observed 10 u.s. one
stormy evening IN winter, as he sat by his
comfortable kitchen fire. eff can't cult
yate nay land just now, can think about
IL" So, if it be too late in the season to
actually cultivate the crops 'just now, we
can think about them and talk about them,
and perhaps the discussion will lead to some
ideas which will be ofvSlue when the right
season comes to practise them.
The subject of a judicious rotation of crops
has been one Of Importance, and is yet one
which should engross the attention OF
farmers.
II has been more or less discussed since
the DAYS of Virgil. Before the potato rot and
the grain worm visited Maine and deranged
all the previous plans and customs of our
farmers, rotation of crops began to be prac-
tised extensively among them. The potato,
wheat, and grass, entered pretty generally
into their system, because these three arti-
cles were very sure crops, and very profit
able. The almost certain destruction OF
two of these crops POTATOES and wheaD
which afterwards ensued, seemed to un'
hinge all the system and calculations to
which they were becoming attached, and
left them to pursue sort OF hap-hazald
course.
As the rot and the grain worm have be-
come not quite so prevalent, it may be
well 10 again turn our attention to a more
systematic course of culture, in which the
potato and wheat may once more have a
place in the shift. We are aware that the
same rotation will not be profitable on every
kind Of soil, or near every market, and yet,
there are general principles which may
serve TO guide ALL
Potatoes, grass, and grain, are all neces-
sary, and therefore profitable crops, and
should be cultivated as extensively as is
compatible with the means that the farmer
has at command. and the market where he
trades. A very simple rotation and very
good one, used to be
|. Sward land broken up and planted to
potatoes.
I'd year, ploughed, and MANFRED highly
for Indian corn.
Sd year, ploughed and sowed to spring
wheat and grass seed.
4th year, grass.
9Th year, grass.
Next year, break up and plant to potatoes
again. This makes five year shift or ro-
tation.
If winter wheat shall ultimately become
an established crop among US, somewhat
different change of rotation may become
necessary in some parts of Maine.
II wheat is desired TO be the main article
of production, the oftener it can be made a
crop in the shift for a short term Of years
the more satisfactory i. may be to the lar
mer.
A German by the name of Sheimer, was
reported, some years since, to have adopted
the following scheme of operations ON his
farm in Northampton County, Pennsylvania
by which, from his successful crops and
sale of wheat, he became wealthy. He is
represented to have followed it for thirty
FIVE years, with constant improvement in
the quality of his land. His farm consisted
of one hundred acres, which he divided a;
nearly as possible into eight fields oftwelye
and half acres, each of which was carried
through an eight years rotation.
Commencing with fallow field
LIST year--manured, hmed, ploughed three
times, May, June and August, narrowed
and seeded with one bushel and three pecks
per acre Of wheat, which was ploughed un'
der.
ID year-clover sown on the wheat in
the spring, six quarts to the acre, which
was pastured after harvest.
Sd year-plastered the clover In the
spring, one bushel per acre; cut the clover
early and ploughed under the atter-crop
and seeded again 70 wheat.
4th year-wheat, same as No. 2.
9th year-pastured early in the season
ploughed under second crop in August, and
sowed wheat.
9th year-wheat again, and rye sowed
on stubble.
7th year-sowed clover seed on spring
rye.
9Th year-ploughed under clover sod and
planted corn, and next season recon-
menced.
II will be seen that in this way he had,
every year, three fields into wheat one
with rye, one with corn, two with clover,
and one fallow. In one year he raised
fourteen hundred bushels of wheat, six
hundred bushels of corn, and three hundred
bushels of rye. II is not probable that we
can do quite as well as that in Maine, with
wheat, although it is not impossible.
He had, you will perceive, three fields
of twelve and half acres, or thirty-seven
and one-half acres every year into wheat,
and he must cut thirty-eight and fraction
of bushels to the acre, in the year that he
raised fourteen hundred bushels.
His method, however appears to be a
very good one, and worthy the consldera-
ton Of every farmer, and can be followed
out in a corresponding scale, whether a
farmer has small farm or large one
Maine Farmer.