American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-05-04
Che farmers department,
Rotation Of Crops.

various crops grown, differ from each
other in the amonnt of certain constlt-
uents which they contain--as, for ex-
ample, of lime, potash, soda, &c.-and
that the proportion ofthese same con-
stituents varies for different soils.
This granted, the conclusion is newt
able, and philosophic, that certain
crops will, faster than others, con-
sumo the available amo UNITS of this or
that constituent in the soil, and on
that account be more or less profta-
bly, grown on given tract of land.
And this is the foundation Of the ro-
tation of crops. For after any par
ticular crop, as wheat, for instance,
has exhausted so much of certain
vailable constituent, such as lime, or
phosphorus, and yet possesses in
abundance the elements especially re-
quired by some other crop, it is simply
the dictate Of common sense to stop
growing the first, and for time, cul-
tivate other. This would give better
return for labor, for the present, and
after awhile, by the action of water,
air, heat, and cold, the mineral in the
soil which supply the requisite lime or
phosphorus will have been so far de-
composed as to again make possible
the profitable growing of wheat.
All this we say, is doubtless, well
understood by majority of intelli-
gent farmers; and yet how very few
in number are they who, to any ex-
tent whatever, practise upon this prin-
ciple.
We are acquainted with lands, even
in this young State, upon which moth
ing but wheat has been grown for the
past twenty years! Wheat was, at
first, about the only crop that was mar
ketable, and will always command
ready cash at some price, and there
fore, they have kept on, regardless
ofthe undeniable fact, that to-day they
produce several bushels less to the
acre than when they commenced.
1t is natural enough that farmers
who have never governed their course
by the established principles of sci
ence, should begin this unreasonable
practice of exclusively growing crop
for which there was an immediate
and unfailing demand, inasmuch as
the soil of new country is popularity
considered as next to inexhaustable.
But then why continue it for years
after there is undeniable evidence ofits
absurdity?
In those countries where agricult-
ure has made its highest practical at
tainments, it is rule never to grow
two successive crops ofwheat, or other
small-grain cereals, on the same
piece of land.
No rule Of rotation can be laid down
that will be adapted to all circumstan-
ces, for it must depend, to some extent
upon differences of soil, as well as up
on the nature of the market demand
but then the notifications are so easi-
ly made by any farmer of good judg-
ment and common intelligence that
no one need be at loss as to the gener-
al course.
A system practised with good result
in some parts of this country is what
is called the fUe-shitt rotation. The
farm is divided into five fields, and
the rotation commences with Indian
corn, which is followed, in regular
succession, by oats, wheat and clover.
The corn and oats are of nature to
cleanse the soil, and very properly,
therefore, precede. As soon as the
oat crop is harvested the ground is
plowed, manured, and sown with win
ter wheat and timothy, clover being
likewise sown upon the same field in
the wheat crop, the grass is mown;
the second year-which is the fifth
in the course-it is pastured, and
turned under in the fall for corn,
which, in the following spring, again
begins the series.
If it is desird to grow other crops,
such as rye, barley, turnips, &C., it is
simply necessary to have larger
number of fields, and to take care that
the green crops be thrown in between
the more exhaustive grain crops.
Iurnips and other root crops have
the effect to shade the soil with their
broad leaves, to pierce and more thor
oughly open it by means of their long
tap-roots, and in other respects tend |
to the improvement of the land. For
these reasons, and because they are
rather essential as food for stock, it
is to be regretted that they do not of
tener find a place in the rotation sys-
TENS of the few farmers in this coun-
try who are wisely aiming to conduct |
their farming operations on sound |
principles.
Rotation is also important for 9TH
er reasons than the one above urged;
1t helps to rid the soil ofinsects which |
very naturally come to abound in
soil devoted to the same crop for sue
cesslve years, and it insures to the
1NsNln IL. L n