Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-07
agricultural.
The Rotation ofCrops, and the Causes which
lead TO the Necessity for the Same.


At this late day il not worth my while to en-
ter into discussion TO prove that with our pres
ent style Of farming, rotation Of crops is mecca
sity, for ike the boys arithmelical problem, II
proves itself.
Wheleve nature is left untrammeed by the |
farmer, she invariably produces rotation OF
crops. Our artificial grasses soon cease to suugRle
with the natural ones and even the latter succeed
one another in almost regular order. 10 our
southern states, when the pine and other soft
woods are cut of, the scrub oak and other hard
woods succeed hsm to give place IN their time
to softer ones. Nor need We 90 so far for an IL
hsraon Of the fact which with to illustrate.
All have noticed in our own section Of the Union,
that when a forest of oak, hickory or other hard
wood, is cleared off, it is followed by growth OF
chestnut. 1t may be argued that more or less OF
hickory will spring up among tbs chestnut such
is the case, but examination will show that such
trees seldom attain much size before they are
smothered out" by those which seem 10 b. their
legitimate successors.
All practical agriculturaIisu will readily &C.
knowledge that, wuh our present system, a rota-
ton or change oI some Kind or other, s the main
spring OF success. Then why this necessity Our
practical farmer will no doubt say that the answer
10 this question is simple, and is embodied in the
assertion that the soil becomes exhausted oil con-
stituents needlul for the particular crop or crops
under consideration. Is this answer satisfactory
and does it cover all the grouhd7 Does moi
analysis prove that the component parts OF corn
and oats ale essentially The same, and that they
only differ in their proportions Our rotation
here (Ckester county, Pennsy lyania) consists
the four crops, corn, oats wheat and grass in thu
order n which have placed them. The sod y
turned under aud the corn is planted, and The
next tprrg ls followed by the oat crop. Oh
farmers tell me that is Of no use to try to rsls
oats Cor the gtain) upon sod-that 1t will "g'
down. be full Ol weeds, &c, &c. The truth o
this assertion | have never verified by my owl
experience Here the tern " second crop corn,
(corn after cornl is anonymous with halt
CROP aud shows that csrn cannot follow corn 10
many crops. Now give the corn field crop =
potatoes without any manure, the land ls good
and II you are fortunate 10 select favorable yea
son, a good crop Of antrot potatoes will be III
result. Mex give II second rs that OF the hr'
crop, as large, Il not larger, yield will be III
result yet we are told that potatoes are an el
hausting crop.
Ii has been proved by the experiments OF Jshr
ston aud De S,usute that all plants have tw
powers, which may be termed the absorbent an
exefetory powers by the exercise Of the irI
they take into their circulation various eompouud
ana by process tot within the province Of m
article to discuss resolve them into their chemicI
constituents, sons Of which they appropriate
the Reorganization of their structure, and Il
others, 10y means of their eicrstory power, the
discharge. 10 prove this, let the leaves OF son
plant OF rapid growth be immersed ia water, ha
ing 10 solution common salt, scetate OF Lead
other soluble substance whose presence can read
ly be detected, and in course Of time the earth
or near the root Of tue plant will become IN
pregusled with the matter in solution this ms
ter, # poisonous TO ihe paut, will soon collect
sufficient amount 10 cause first diseased ks
enee, and fnally death. Can il be that crop
corn can in one season sxorsle enough Of any Of
dtlstsIious substance 10 interfere With the gros
Of succeeding similar orop3 And further, Ct
il be that thi, txoreled deleteriOus substance
favorable to the growth Of the potato or 9th
root crop? All who have old gardens know tn
even with the use of manure every year they "
ia course Of time iA to give satisfaction az q
deus. Ls, such plot be cropped With potato
for oue or tgo at most seasons, and note 1
result, nothing has been added, and yet ths q
Den wlll produces vegetables Ne before.
Before ! eo,e, allow me TO sep up the he
through which some Of ny readers may be d