Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-05
IMPORTANCE OF THE HOTA TON
OF CROPS.

Farming, as it has in too many instan-
ces been conducted, impresses the Rural
World with the conviction that books
aud agricultural papers have not received
a general invitation to aid the plow in any
way, but the production of crops has been
more a matter of chance and necessity
than Of any systematic course of cultiva-
ton. The owners of the land do not seem
to care how the crops are produced, if the
immediate pecuniary results are of salts
factory character. 1t is now pretty gener-
ally known, says that paper, that certain
principles underIie the science of the cult
walton of the soil, and that unless these
are understood and made the basis of our
system of cropping, manuring and
cultivation, we shall fail in produc-
ing annual crops of an average
yield. The general desire among
farmers, however, is to get as much grain
from the soil, with as little outlay as pos
sible, and yet keep the land in "good
heart" or, in other words, in productive
condition. II is well known that the differ
ent crops take from and exhaust the soil of
certain elements of food peculiar to them
selves; it is for this reason mainly that the
adoption of a systematic rotation of crops
is so important. If this is not done, gen.
eral failure will inevitably take place soon
er or later. 1t is this random, reckless lack
of system in our farming operations, where
the soils were originally not very fertile,
that is producing such disastrous results;
the first thing, therefore, to be taken into
consideration in order to effect the desired
change, is to adopt proper system of TO-
tation Of crops.
In determining such course of rotation,
the nature of the soil and of the crops to
be produced from it, must be considered in
their relation to each other.
1t is now generally conceded that all the
cereal crops derive their food principally
from the soil, and that each species of them
requires certain kinds and proportions Of
food peculiar to themselves.
A proper rotation of crops is usually
termed six shift course, and is arranged
in the following order: green crops,
grain, clover, grain, beans or potatoes,
grain. The rotation is arranged in this
Sway so that only one-half of the culti-
waited land will be in grain at the same
time. Suppose, however, that wheat, oats
and barley follow each other in three
successive courses, is it not evident that
the supply of phosphOric acid, potash, soda
and other clements of which the supply in
soils of an ordinary fertility is exceedingly
limited, will, if such course of cultivation
be persisted iU, soon render the land unpro-
ductive ? The course of rotation men
toned ia such that at least two top dress
ings Of barn-yard manure could be given
TO the land, the first being given to the
green crops the first year, and the second
du ing the fifth year, to beans, potatoes or
some similar crop. The system of rotation
given may not be applicable to all localities,
but viii serve as a guide in determining
one for any special locality. Good common
sense and close observation will enable the
thinking fTmer to devise a course that will
enable lin to maintain and increase the
fertility OF his land and put money in his
purse.