The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-09-21
Igruultural,
Rotation of Crops.

lhouBn many DO not understand or
investigate the principle upon which a 70.
tation OF cropping is based, few deny or
question the utility Of the practice. The
admitted fact that various crops extract
from the soils the various elements. and
that certain elements in small quantities,
which may be readily exhausted, will point
out the soundness of the practice adopted
by all intelligent cultivators, of changing
or rotating tho crops on the soil. that is,
leaving the longest possible internal be-
tween the cultivation OF crops of s:ni.
lar nature on the same soil. TO carr
out this plan satisfactorily, the garden or
farm must be divided into a stated nu,n.
Der Of compartments, corresponding with
the number OF seasons before any given
crop will be planted again on the same
lot or field.
In improved husbandry this is strictly
attended to, the rotations varying with
the nature Of the soil and the crops rails.
ed, from three years to eight. In the
garden there are so many varieties of
vegetables, that the principle Of rotation
is often lost sight OF. There is not, how.
ever, any good reason why this should be
the case. Take the several prominen,
crops Of the kitchen gardener, say for ex.
ample, potatoes, beets, turnips, cabbagcs,
parsnips, spinach, carrots, peas and beans
cucumbers, squashes and melons, toma.
toes, onions, celery, and various salading
plants, with few roots which require to
remain for several years in one place, such
as asparagus, rhubarb, &c. These may
be so grouped o; divided, as to form four
or six groups, to be cultivated in four or
six course rotation. We shall suggest a
four-crop rotation.
10 carry out this routine, the garden is
to be divided into four lots, or any multi
pie Of four, or at least that portion to be
occupied by vegetables. BY observing
the nature Of tho various esculents which
comprise the garden crops, these NAV b,
classed SO that several varieties of similar
nature, demanding almost the same treat
men: and soil, may be planted in one
compartment and, during the season
as one crop natures and is removed, &
different one may take its place, which
may, to certain extent, be benefited Ly
theroutine Of culture, or residue Of enrich
ing material Cf any, left by the proceed
ing crop. 10 attend to these considera
tions is matter which demands httl
forethought, and to those who will piy
the subject that attention which il merits
there will be found much interest in kitch
en- gardening.
II is in this regard that gardening An,
farming vary, if they do not differ it !
for these reasons that those who attemp
to view gardening as small farming can
not succeed in demonstrating tha; il il
neither more nor less than farming on
small SCALE as we have frequently hear,
them declare.
The gardener is never at rest; one Gro,
out, in with manure, turn over the prounC
and in with another crop; and SO OF
throughout the season, which lie open
with hot bed or pit, and closes with tn
same adjunct, which indeed is indispen
sable to the progressive and perseverin,
gardener.
We do not think anything of garden
that, IN the latter part of February, @
beginning Of March, has not its hot. be,
for the forwarding OF early plants, sucl
as tomato, lettuce, cucumber, melon, veg
etable egg, DC. with few pots or boxe
Of neat annuals, which are rendered real
ly beneficial during the season, by bein,
advanced step before the weather mod
crates sufficiently to turn them into pei
manent quarters.