Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-04-14
Farm and Fzres1de.
sEF.sLL I'VE .fDOPT ROTATION
OF CROPS.

or CROPS.
There are comparatively few farms in
America on which a systematic rotation of
crops has been adopted. The temptation
to remain free TO do whatever fancy dictates
from year TO year is very strong. If neigh
Dor has made good hit with sheep, we and
half the other farmers in our township fol-
low his example, and by over-supplying
the demand we are very apt to bring down
the market and lose money where we hoped
TO gain 1t. The same is true of nearly all
special branches of cultivation. We are in
clined to be governed by the temporary
prosperity or depression of some particular
industry, and we usually find our mistake
when it is too late TO remedy it-for we are
governed not by what we have right to
expect as the result of next years opera
lions, but by what we know of those of the
past year. In farming, as in many other
things, it is the steady goer who wins the
race. We cannot give too much care and
attention TO the original selection of our
policy. Every circumstance of our farms,
our facilities and our market, should be
carefully scrutnized, and we should as far
as possible, judging the future not by the
past year but by many years past-lay out
such plan of operations as promises the
best result year after year. Especially
should we regard the condition of the land
itself The goose that is to lay our golden
eggs must not be killed for the sake of get
ting its whole supply at once, but it must
he so nurtured and cared for that its pro-
ducton shall keep. constantly increasing
year after year. There is no safer place for
the investment Of profits than in the very
soil from which they were derived, and any
farmer who is able to gather his comforta-
BILE yearly support, may be well satisfied if
all his surplus profit takes the form of an
increased fertility of his land
This fertility depends not only upon the
cultivation the soil receives and in the ma
nure that is applied to it, but quite as much
on the manner in which we tax its produc-
tive power. There is constantly going on,
especially in well cultivated land, a series
of chemical changes, due mainly to the ac-
ton of water, air, heat and frost, that result
in development of previously hidden fer
tillzing power; and If we so adjust our
cropping, that in our withdrawal of these
ingredients we keep pace with their pro-
duction, it will be far easier to keep our
land in good heart than if we pay no atten-
ton to this requirement, but raise some
one crop year after year so long as it seems
profitable. Hay extracts from the soil an
undue proportion of certain mineral mat
tiers; potatoes take quito different ingredi-
entS as their most prominent ones, and
wheat exacts still another proportion. If
we grow potatoes for successive years with
out an unusual application of manure we
shall in time reduce our potato harvest to
Improbable proportions though the land
may still be strong for the production of
grass or grain. Then again the necessary
cultivation of one crop may be particularly
useful in preparing the soil for the growth
of another while it may peculiarly unfit it
for the growth of a third. Some crops re-
quire the immediate application of heavy
doses Of manure, while others thrive best
ON manure that has already laid n year in
the soil. Weeds and insects, those pests of
the farm, are fostered by some crops and
destroyed by the cultivation of others. In
variety of products and full advantage of it
can be taken by the farmer only in case he
has variety of produce to sell. All of
these considerations point to the great de-
STABILITY of well selected rotation, in
which each of the most salable products
shall have its fair share of attention. where
each crop grown shall be made to help in
the preparation of the soil for the next crop,
and where, so far as possible, the power of
the soil to develop its inherent fertility
shall not be duly taxed in any one respect,
but shall do its utmost, by "A successive sup
ply of first one ingredient and then anoth-
or; but of none TO the full extent of which
the soil is capable. When we have gone
around the course of our rotation, the soil
should be so improved that we may feel
sure of II larger return from each crop of
the second series, and still better of the
third.
In country like ours il is impossible to
lay down rules for the guidance OF all. Ev-
cry man must judge for himself what rota-
ton his farm, his facilities for procuring
manure, and his market indicate as the
best. In one state 1t might be one course.
and in adjoining state quite different
one. All that 1t IL in our power to say Is,
that in all rotations there should be an al
formation of root crops with seed crops, and
that each rotation should end lin districts
where grass is grown at ALL with good
turf for the reception of the principal ma
nuring
Experience both in this country and in
England has shown that there IL no other
practicable profit out of the farm, and at
the same time to secure the greatest posi-
BILE Improvement in its quality, except by
close adherence to wisely selected course
Of rotation.-Erchdnge.