Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-02-18

Essay
Delivered Jy JonN BARNARD, before the
farmers Club of Muscatine, January
29m, 1859, on Rotation Of Crops
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF TIE Club
TIE order in which different crops are
made t, follow each other: 1t wa, only
towards the middle of the last century that
the importance of scientific rotation of
crops began even to attract attention. Pre-
vous to that period we scarci, in vain in
the works of Agricultural Authors. Since
that, moro accurate and moro generally diff
fused observations have led the present race
of cultivators to inquire into its proper
value. Tho Importance of the investigation
no farmer will for a moment donLt. The
observing farmer, too, is we'll aware that
plants and grains of the same kinds cannot
be cultivated to advantage in continued
succession on the same Soil. First--Con-
tinual tillage wears out the soil. Second
His grain has tendency to grow feeble or
degenerate and become liable to disease.
when cultivated from year to year on the
same land; hence the necessity of system
OF rotation or alienation of crops NJ y ex-
perlence is that crops Of the same kinds
possible, depending on the number of fields
and Kinds of crops. Now it is very i'm
portant that the farmer should understand
he scientific principals of rotation; hence
the necessity of an Agricultural G .llege or
experimental farm, so that the next genera
ton may understand tho principles of rota-
ton scientifically and practically. | can
on explain otation by tho reluctance wit,
which one crop follows another of the same
klnd~-t'at Is, by suppo-ing that each kind
OF plant Las some peculiar or essential in
gredent which it absorbs from and in n GER
tain degree exllausts the soil, and that it is
necessary that the soil should have manure
or rest, t. restore the ingredient peculiar to
that crop. AS the people Of Iowa have
adopted 30 plan of rotation, only one crop
II wheat alter another, to them would re.
commend this sy-tem to prevent the deprec.
alton Of soil and improve its productive Ca
paclfy. proper rOtat on of crops, in nv
estimation, is indispensable. 1t was once
thought that land should lay idle every third
year, but with good system of rotation it
will produce good crop every year, with
the aid of the compost heap. But rotation,
unlike manuring, does not increase the labor
o; culture; it only directs the labor in the
most ce' tain manner by the exercise of
thought and judgment. If manure is the
steam engine that propels the vessel, rota-
ton Is the rudder which guides it in its pro-
gress. All neat, all profitable, and all salts
factory farming must be attended with some
kind of manure-hence rotation, and, allow
mo to add, mixed hnsbandry. One thought ::
Suppose one farmer sells two hundred dol
lars worth of grain each year for ten years,
and another with the same number of acres
sells one hundred dollars worth of grain and
one hundred dollars worth of stock each
year for two years; at the end of which time
their Income are equal, but how are the
farms? The first one burns his straw pile.
an! also his corn stalks, which, with con-
tinual culture, makes his land at.the end OF
ten years poor. The second, by his stock
to eat up the refuse of the farm and convert
its animal nut inent in auimals, and the
remaining portion into manure 10 renoyate
the soil, this with rotation, which will give
clover crop to plough under every three
or four years. Having his crops we'll mixed
with roots, the consequence at the end OF
ten years is the first worn out, the second ia Il
ready for profitable cultivation and would
sell for twice the amount that the first
would. Another advantage first has
only grain to depend on, and the second has
grain, roots and stock, some of which will
always be good crop: yet another anG
not the least IN Importance, the first has nc
attractions, while the second affords pleas.
ure, profit and recreation to its Inhabitants
and to the traveller, which will tend to refine
and moralze the young, and form Their
minds to habits of industry and usefulness
This will improve the neighborhood and
country at large and exalt our nationa
character by fitting farmers to public offices
of trust and honor.
In order to work this system scientifically
Or successfully your farm must be divided
into fields of shape and size to snit location
which will enable the farmer to pasture
each field at pleasure. To the examination
in every particular Of this grea. question
let every farmer contribute his mite fprac
tical observations, and adopt the ystem
before your land gets poor. 1t is easier
kept in good order than renovated when
worn out. BY this system the farmer will
be enabled to continue cropping differen,
plants or grains with pleasure and profit
which will make the now humble farmer
stand as high in society as the professional
man where he should be.
Here your humble servant lacks scientific
knowledge to give You the best course or
the plan of rotation. My own experience
would be as follows: First year, corn and
roots, with good covering Of stable manure
well plouShed uader; second year, small
grains of any or all kinds to suit the mar.
ket with regard to profit, we'll seeded tc
clover; third year, clover, hay and pasture
fourth year, hay, second crop ploughed un.
der for green manure; fifth year, small
grain sixth year, corn and roots, with ma
nure; seventh year, small grains with clio
yer and timothy-and so continue as .judgmen,
and experience directs. The Importance OF
doing every thing at tie right time is wei
known to every good farmer. Some of the
things necessary to good farming (rotation is
not ally are manure first, rotation, draining
good culture good stock of all kinds good
tools, good fences and good buildings for
man and beast.
An attention to all these points would
place Agriculture on a very different foot.
ing from its present condition. With mos.
farmer farming should be pleasure. Be-
ing incapable to do justice to this important
subject, will only add, that in all improve.
ments and in all enterprises, the great truth
must not be forgotten, that success is not to
be expected, without strict diligence and
industry. The plans must not only be made
but the work d1ne. Let US talk the matter
over and if possible give knowledge and
gain knowledge, Farmers, ''onward,' sh ould
be our motto
LONG FOR THIS WoELD.-The Desmoines