Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-03-16
A CHANGE OF, OR ROT4TTONI
OF CROPS

To the Editors of the Chronicle. 4 -
AS member of society, I have, been
thinking for some days past, during my
leisure moments, what could say tot
my fellow men that might either inter-
est, or amuse, and at the same time be
beneficial put into practice.
Various subjects, questions and the
ories connected with farming and the
interest, have underground
sort of revisionary revision inmy mind
during this time. And as my mind has
been rather changeable, or rotative. 1
have concluded to submit few hints
on the subject ola change of, or rotation
of crops.
And would remark first ;-That
the many essentials indispensa-
bly, requisite to enable the farmer or
gardener TO maintain high degree of
success in cultivation for series of
years, a proper system of rotative crop
ping occupies n prominent place. The
general IDEA, that change of, or rota
tion OF crops is necessary, seems TO be
generally understood by our farming
community, but to give a good reason
why this is necessary would probably
trouble the most of us. The practiced
advantages ofa rotation in farm crops
are pretty generally known; yet, in
the garden and where small tracts OF
land are cultivated, the practice Is very
common of growing the same kind of
vegetables and crops for years in sue
cesSion in the same ground. That this
is done, is fact. well known to most of
us; and that this practice may be fol-
lowed for years in succession seems to
be possible, and to a certain degree,
advantageous, but to do this with any
considerable degree of success will re-
quire a return, if not an unusual return
to the soil, in some form or other of the
essential Ingredient Whiehare annually
extracted by the crops grown thereon.
Ny practical knowledge in the sci
ence of farming and gardening, and
my knowledge of the application of
science to these pursuits, will not, in
my opinion, warrant much faith on
your parts in what may say on these
subjects. If we resort to the science OF
Chemistry, or perhaps / should say, to
tiic W1ItiHSo vi piOleocSu NllcHIlSCS, VIC
will find that they differ as to the exact
respective amounts of the different
earth ingredients used in the growth OF
various plants and crops
If we turn to the science of Physi-
ology, or perhaps should say, to the
writings of Psychologists, we will find
that they do not altogether coincide in
their opinions with regard to the very
principles upon which the beneficial re-
suits attending systematic change OF
crops are based.
| Allowing /, succession of the same
crop year after year, to be practically
attainable; yet, if we look at it in the
light of mere economy, a systematic
change of crops may be, in every way
desirable. Take for instance a piece ol
stiff solid clay soil, which has beer
well set in either bluegrass, or foX-tai
for several years, and which has beer
used as a pasture, or for grazing fol
the period of from five to ten years
would it be better, all things considered
to plow it during the dry season O
August, or September, at the expense
of time, labor, metal plOws. harness
and horse flesh, for full wheat crop?-
| or would it not be better to plOw it il
March, or early in April for an cat, Ol
corn crop preparatory for the desired
Fall wheat crop? This is practiced
question which our farming community
from practical experience, without ref
erence to the science of farming, should
| be able to settle eunderstandingly.
| But, to turn our attention to the diff
ferent theories heretofore alluded to
we find that some support what may
be called ''the repletiOn or eXcretOry
theory" which is attempted to be sup
ported on the theory "that the roots OF
most plants during their growth give
out or exude certain substances peculiar
to themselves, which, in process O
time, impregnate, or in one sense, futil
der it unfit for the growth of that specie:
OF plant, or crop,-which impregnatlor
or fertilization however, has no dele
terious effect upon the growth of a diff
ferent species of plants or crops" Some
writers who have ably supported thi'
theory, have gone so far as to claim that
this plant fertilizing principle ''should
be considered as capable of promoting
the growth, and acting as a stimulan
to the growth of plants of a differen
Ispecies. - = Z ~ ss4 = 81 ~ e. -
/ l might with perfect safety say, tha
it is awell ascertained, and a well estab
lished fact, that certain, probably al
plants, in certain degree, do impair
to the soil while growing therei n
through their roots, a portion of thei
juices. For instance, it has been proven
by analysers that the soil surrounding
the roots Of the oak tree, is always t.
a greater or less extent, impregnatet
with tannise--to greater extent dur
ing the summer and fall months, thar
: in the winter and spring seasons. TIL,
poppy, while growing, eXudes through
, its roots to the earth a substance analog
: Gus to opium. The root of any plan
growing in standing water viii sool
!, render the water turbid, and impart t
: the water flavor peculiar to the plan
: itself f -
? The above theory and ideas hav
f been supported for years by very higl
| authority and doubt not but wha
: some of the ideas suggested above, ma.
1 meet with an approving response ab,
l some persons who will read this article
But the foregoing theory, although /
has been supported by high authorit,
| in times past, and is supported by som
/ with ability still; and although thi
: theory seems at first view to be SUP
1 ported by demonstrated facts consis
tent with science, yet it now seems t
be giving way to another theory of tn
a following nature, namely: That al
: plants aremade up of the same primar.
+ elements. That different species c
plants, and plants of the same species
: but tdiffering in kinds, require in growt
G these primary elements IN widely di
ferent proportions and that each plan
has its own characteristic formation
p peculiar to ITSELF If this theory is true
n then it follows, that if there is a lacksi
: the supply of these primary element,
or ingredients of plant food in the soi
where plant is grown, the plant -itsel
s will mot he si1Stainnd and uaai inc