The weekly standard., 1869-09-22
Rnr,r1nn or Cn,ops-Freauent attempts

are made to lay dOWn specluc IuIeo ioi the
rotation of the crops OF farm but there
are so many circumstances which render it
NECESSARY to deviate from any fixed direc-
tions, that it seems to US much more useful
! to state the principles upon which the ne
cessity for rotation is based, than attempt
to prescribe definite rules. There are va
| rious objects to be attained by means of
rotation. The most important of these are
the Improvement of the condition of the
soil and the proper adjustment of the de-
mands for labor. All other matters are in
cidental, although, of course, the question
of the sale of crops, that is the production
of that which will yield the most money
without injury to the land, Is of the utmost
consequence.
1t is perfectly well known by all farmers
who know anything, that the raising of the
same crop-unless, indeed, it be permanent
pasture grasses-tor many successive years
on the same land Injuries its quality. Not
only are certain elements of fertility that
the soil contains, removed out of all proper
tion to the quantity of other available ele-
ments that the crop requires but, as each
crop is attended by its peculiar weeds and
peculiar insects, these Incidental drawbacks
~ S-~ SuNSSeo VI Jul OlICldllOuo diC lOSlCiCo
IN an increasing degree in proportion to the
length of time during which a single crop
is made. Therefore, we should constantly
aim to so alternate our cropping: that, while
this years crop may make an excessive de-
mand on the phosphoric acid of the soil,
that of the next year may require less of
this ingredient, and more of some other;
and so that the weeds that are induced by
the growth of this years crop may, by the
more thorough cultivation of the next year,
be exterminated. 1t will be found in prac-
tice that the greater the number of different
crops that enter into the rotation, provi-
ded they are all such as can be
grown with success and disposed of with
certainty, the better will be the ultimate
result; and especially should clover or some
other deep-rooted plant find prominent
place in the shift, for these plants obtain
large amount of nutritive matter from the
subsoil, which on the decomposition they
yield to the surface soil, while the decay of
their deeper reaching roots opens inviting
channels for the descent of the roots OF more
delicate plants.
1t is not always-indeed, not generally
possible to adopt such systems of rotation
as shall develop the greatest possible pro
ductive capacity of the land, even in those
cases where the supply of manure is ample
for the purpose. The reason for this is that
some of the more productive crops require
large amount of manual labor, and also that
the chief labor required by too entirely diff
erent crops may fall due on the same day.
1t is necessary, therefore, to take into conside-
ration the amount of labor that given area
of any crop will require at any particular
period, and matters should be adjusted, so
far as possible (due allowance being made
for bad weather), in such way that, from
the first opening of spring until the final
setting in of winter, the regular force of the
farm may be constantly employed, and also
the requirement for extra labor, which neces-
sarily attends all systematic farming during
certain seasons, may be surely met by the
supply of transient men within reach. For
instance. the raising of roots and cabbages,
which are highly important, not only as
Yielding a very valuable addition to the
took of winter food, but as greatly improv-
lg the soil through their high cultivation
nd the rich manuring that they need, re-
luires that very large amount of hand
abor be done at the precise time when the
getting in of hay calls for every moments
labor of the regular farm force; and, conse
quently, the extent of these crops must be
limited almost exactly by the amount of
help the neighborhood affords-due account
being taken of the services of women and
children, who for this work are even better
than men.-American 4gricuturaliSt
WHEAT CULTURE.-We Otter ask our
selves, why should not North Carolina be-
come wheat-growing State? We shall be
answered doubtless that it cannot be made
profitable. We very much doubt whether
this answer is correct if it he intended to
say that it cannot be made to pay as well as
in those States that are pre- cminently wheat
growing. Wheat growing fell into disuse
before the days of railroads, mainly because
of the expense of getting flour or wheat to
market. Indian corn was cultivated in
many parts OF the State, and still is, because
it could be converted into whisky, and, thus
reduced in bulk, conveyed at less cost to
market 1t is this maize culture that has
exhausted our lands, and it is imperative in
order to restore our lands that it be very
greatly reduced in acreage. By an improv-
ed system OF farming, wheat would be again
restored 10 its place as first in the agricultu-
raj products oil the State.
mate OF this State produce wheat of supe-
lior quality Our State reaching the coast,
and so near to the flour and grain markets by
water conveyance, has the advantage over
the Northwestern wheat States, and because
it ripens so much earlier, can always be in
the market one or two months before many
distant States, while there is less liability to
a failure from any cause of this crop. Take
year with year we think our wheat crop is
much more certain than that of the North.
1t only remains, then, TO determine by ex
pertinent whether the quantity produced per
acre can lie so increased as to Justify the
farmers in growing wheat under all the al
vantages we have pointed out. To our
mind this is certain. All that is needed is
that our land be. improved and ordinary
care be had as to the seed sOwn, and our old
State will stand high as a profitable grain
growing State We invite the attention Of
our agriculturists to this matter of wheat
culture, and hope to see the days when our
hills and wales shall be covered with luxu-
RANT wheat that shall prove North Cardinals
soil well adaptedto this staple and remu-
nerative to the well-to-do farmer.
CoTToN SEED MEAL AND CoTToN SEED
SneUllCal dilalNSiS SHOWS tudG CUlIOH StGu
meal is one of the richest foods now availa-
bic for farm stock, while its price is relative
ly lower than that of any other. After con-
siderable experience in its use with mich
COWS and other animals, we gre prepared to
say that its effect in feeding seems fully to
sustain the indications of the analysis 1t
is not well to feed it very largely; and there
are authenticated instances of its having
speedily produced death when given to
young calves and young lambs. although
sucking colts eating it from the lambs
troughs in the fields have not been injured
1t is almost always necessary to teach cattle
to eat it, by at first mixing q small quantity
OF it with other meal Its effect on the
value ofmanure is very great, probably even
better than that of linseed meal or rape cake.
4 neighbor of ours used it last Spring as
manure in the hill, for corn, with excellent
results. He considered the application prof
liable, and proposes to repeat it during the
coming season. An Arkansas planter re-
Gently informed Us that he regarded bush
ell of hulled cotton seed as equal in value to
two bushels of corn in fattening hogs The
hulled seed, from which the oil has not been
expressed, must be fed even more cautiously
than the meal which is deprived of the
g1sster share Of its 9il-Amqieea. Agrieul,
The following experiment by Mr. H. Day
ton, of Alden, Erie county, N. Y, is better
than column of theorizing His orchard