Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-05-20
agricultural,
PROM the Popular science Revue"
Natural Rotation Of Crops.


cOnyerSant with the advantages deriy-
able from the practice of not growing the
same crop on the same soil lur too long
a period. The advantages consequent on
This sO-ealled rotation OF crops aIe due
To- more than one cause but it ~as Dure-
au de Ia Male who. in 1925. called at
,cution to the phenomenon Ot natural ro-
tatiOn. From long observation OF what
takes place in woods aud pasture lands,
nc established the fact that an alienation
ol growth. as he called il. occurs rs nat
ural phenomenon. In pastme.lands, for
instance. the grasses get the upper hand
at one time, the leguminous plants at an
other; so that. in the course OF thirty
years. the author whose observations we
are citing was witness ol five or six such
alterations.
Il follows from all this that plant
does not necessarily grow in the situs-
lion best adapted for ii, bat where it can
best hold its own against its hostile
neighborS. and best sustain itself against
unfavorable conditions generally.
Avery slight change in c.imaIcd eondi
lions produced, lol instance, 10y the
growth OF sheitering trees. or by the
drainage OF the soil-may bc followed by
the growth Of quite a different set OF
plants from those that occupied the
ground previously. The altered condi'
lions have been advantageous 10 The one
and disadvantageOus 20 the other set of
plants.
Asan illustration OF the compleNily OF
the check, and relations between organic
bcingS struggling together, Darwin men,
lions the case ui barren heath which
tell under his observation. por1 ct which
Was LEFT intact while another potion had
heeh enclosed and planted With Scotch
Ar The change in the native ,rgetation
OF the planted part OF the heath was
most remarkable. No, only The proper
tional number OF the heath-plauts were
wholly changed. but twelve species Of
plants, not counting grasses and earices,
Aourished in the plantations which could
not DO found on the heath"
This sort Of change was poinIedly To-
ferred 70 by bureau de Ia Male. who re-
lales how. allor the falling of The timber
in forests Of 4 particular district OF France,
broom. foxgloye. heath. birch trees. and
.spens spraug up, replacing The oaks, the
beech and the ash. felled by the wood
man. Alter thirty years. the birch and
poplars were lelled in their turn Still
very few Of the original possessoIS Of the
soil. the oaks. etc. made their appearance;
the ground was still occupied with young
birch and poplar. Its not I'LL alter the
third repetition 1.-THE coppicing-alter an
interval OF ninety years that the oaks
and beech reconqucr their original posi-.
lion. They retain il tor time. and then
the struggle begins again.
Antiquarian researches also have prov.
ed that. in the natural state OF things,
without any violent change la external
conditions. the nature OF forests become
altered The Hercyuian forests. OF
which Ossar speaks. and which then con-
sisted of deciduouS. lcaved trees. are now
made up principally OF couilrr, A tor
est which, in the middle ages WAS OF
beech. is now stocked with oak and vice
versa. Again. we have the evidence al
forded by submerged forests AMI peat
bogS. according II which certain plants.
now extinct in particular localities. once
fiouri>hed here.
FoyeslerS in al, countries arc perfectly
well aware of these facts. aud butauisiS
watch with Interest The appearance OF a
different vegetation, when some a,, has
iuterlcrcd With the previously existing
conditions. When woods ar, cut down,
when soil from "a depth i laid ou tLe sur.
face. when extensive fires occur. when
lakes aSe drained. IN fact. When any
sudden alteration Eases place ia external
circumstances. then We may expect 10
find corresponding change in the vegc-
tstion. one set OF plants profits by the
change. another sufetS.
1! may be asked. Where do these
new arrivals come FROM"
Sometimes. nc doubt. The seeds are
waited from distance. and finding q
suitable abiding. place, terminate. Thi.
is, perpapS, mole especially the case
with the spores Of fungi. whose extreme
minuieness fayors their dispeI sion la this /
way. But ii often happens hat The facts /
Of the case will not admit OF such IN in. /
depreciation, and then we can only fall /
back on the supposition that the seeds or
bulbs exists IN the soil. Jgtunder rircum-
stances unfavorable to their development. |
The soil in this way is looked ON by Al |
phonsO Csndolle and Darwin - 4 vast /
mine of seeds, etc. capable OF retaining /
their vitality for more OF less prolonged |
period, according 10 The circumstances,
and are 10 avail themselves al any /
changes that may 10 beneficial TO them.
"