Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-10
Rotation.
Ought Farmer to Apply the Usual Rota
ton to all his Land

ought Farmer to Apply the Usual Rota.
ton to all his Land
This is nice question, and, we fear, is not
sufficiently considered. There is great divcrsi.
ty Of soil, and this diversity requires differ
ent treatment Hence (for one thing there
is no end to the variety of rotation A black
sandy loan requires different treatment
from a coarse, stubborn clay. Color is essen
tial, and has its influence on the direction OF
crops. We are more inclined to put corn on
dark soil so as to get the heat Of the sun On
the contrary, wheat wants the color of clay,
requiring less heat The grasses also, of a
cool nature flourish best on a clay land. So
the potato will thrive most on yellow or
light colorod soil. Clover, oats, barley, peas,
will do for all soils; these can be relied on
for a regular rotation on any land.
But not only the soils in their color have
an influence, adapted to the particular grains,
but the seasons have an equal if not superior
effect. A cold season is hard upon clay, and
corn, even on rich soil, would not do well
but the grasses would flourish exceedingly,
especially with moisture accompanying. So
would wheat and other crops. Ga the other
posites, making difference Of half this in
good ground; on poor land the difference
would still be greater, amounting almost to a
failure in some cases A warm showery sea-
son would favor all. Much rain would injure
all, some more some less depending upon
the amount ST drainage and the kind of pro-
duct Thus the potato in such season, on
pOrus land, would do well, requiring GOODNESS
and moisture as it does.
Then the climate has its influence, in some
parts of the country varying more than in
Others and making early or late crops unre-
liable. Particularly is this the case with re.
spect to fruit-growing. Connected with eli
mate is the inclination of the land, that facing
north having a different influence from that
facing south, and requiring different man
agement
We have not mentioned all that goes to ef
feet difference, but sufficient to show that a
strict uniformity in rotation will not do. 1t
becomes us, therefore, to look carefully into
the matter, SO as to discriminate and apply
the means proper to each soil. This requires
tact and extensive knowledge, and then much
will have to be mere haphazard.
The farmer who has his hills of drift, light
colored and cold, will do well with clover and
timothy, aided by light and rather frequent
topdressngs, particularly Of barnyard manure
or compost. In such case, and in almost all
seasons, the best of crops are raised here, and
for years requiring no rotation, as the land is
improving all the while the sod thickening
and preparing the land for the plow. On
such u soil, in a warm, moist season, corn
may be raised but it is not generally prac-
ticed. 1t is found that the lower land with
the black mould will pay best with corn that
it seldom fails, while the hills frequently do.
We raise oats, barley, wheat and other crops
on our hill soils this two years in success.
sion, generally without manure then the
land is put to grass and clover again. In this
way our hills have been treated for more than
thirty years, and the result of what before
was worn out soil is the land is greatly i'm.
proved profitable crops meantime have been
realized, and Of late years, since the introduc.
ton Of machinery, with little labor. Top.
dressings Of these lands are relied upon by
the best of farmers, aud are of more benefit
than on the low lands, little manure going
farther than little more in the valleys. Ii
is remarkable how these uplands will show
the benefit Of small applications of manure
thin coat from the stables in the fall raising
cloud where before was but an ordinary
crop. A simple rotation will therefore do fol
these hills, grass and clover-th that is timothy
and clover--beihg most relied upon, and gras,
is natures coat, that needs no change, but i,
improved by it sometimes it is improved
by enrichment from the top and by turning
down and thoroughly decomposing and pull
verifying the sod, thus preparing it for a bet
ter coat, and particularly for that most ex,
cellent Of crops, the clover
In dark soil, in an intervale for instance
wider rotation may be practiced. Her,
corn follows the sod, succeeded by the grains
and great variety Of the latter may be in
dulged in. Root crops may be rsked here
almost any crop in almost any season, so that
the soil is deep, rich and well drained. II quit,
dark, dense growth will still lessen the heat
10y its shade j and if cold, the heat will b,
invited by glimpses Of the sun and less dens,
growth, so that there still may be fair yield
If further the ground is made warm with ma
nure and rich il must be indeed an nhospit
able season if there is not at least fair yield
so that in the valleys we may practice reg
ular system Of rotation, and we may do il
with safety if the work is thoroughly done
drainage, manure, proper cultivation being
applied. This is different from the hills
which cannot therefore be brought under the
same system of changes with the valleys Sc
we should aim to have less corn AID NOR,
grass on our land inclning to the north
Wheat will do well here, and potatoes ant
root crops, and will alternate well with thu
grasses. But the corn will only in hot sea
son do we'll, which cannot be foreseen bu
as the seasons are getting more and NOR
drouthy, there is less risk with corn here
But why risk corn when other grains are NOR,
suitable
Thus we see that the same locality has diff
ferent systems of rotation, the same farm
even, each adapted to the circumstances
There may be shorter or longer rotations
r. G. in Cuitiuator.