The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-11-18
The Rotation of Crops.

What should be the purpose of rota-
ton of crops? Should it be to take out
of the soil every element which can sup
port vegetation, or should it he the object
to fill the soil with these elements? To
restore, to improve, to make the land more
productive?
No farmer will admit that he is exhaust
ing his land, though he may be obliged to
acknowledge that he does not get as large
crops as he once did. What is the reason
for this? 1t is because some element of
fertility, or elements, have been used out
and the land cannot turn out so large a
growth. A prosperous, vigorous plant
may be compared to a prosperous man.
As man grows in wealth and finds him.
self surrounded with an abundance of the
means of life his wants increase rapidly,
and as he reaches out and finds plenty
within easy grasp new wants grow out,
and everywhere they find sustenance and
qualification. A plant in a rich soil
seems to desire to take up all within its
reach-it sends out new roots, double the
number it would if it grew in poor, thin
soll-and grasps and consumes and pro-
duces a heavy yield. 1t is the purpose of
good, proper rotation to keep the
soil IN this condition, and this should
be the purpose of good farming every
where
AS the most important element in the
growth of plants is nitrogen the first OBJ
ject in any rotation should be to see that
those plants which yield this in greatest
quantities should be introduced most freely
and often. The air and the soil are the
store-houses of nitrogen in the forms of
ammonia and nitric acid. Seventy.seven
parts by weight of the atmosphere is
nitrogen; and among agricultural chem
lists there Is perfect agreement as to the
atmosphere being source of nitrogen as
plant food. Different plants require diff
terent proportions of nitrogen; but when
we undertake to grow maximum crops
throughout rotation we must by some
artificial means supply a portion of the
nitrogen required.
In some seasons and in some localities
the atmosphere would supply all the nj
trogen a crop might need, yet it would
not be prudent to trust such favoring COM
binations. 1t is getting to be more than
dubious experiment to trust to the seasons
for the moisture our arabic crops need,
and the means of supplying this necessary
element artiticially is beginning to be
earnestly sought after by agriculturists in
many places.
The atmosphere yields nitrogen, and de-
caying organic matter in the soil yields
nitrogen. As it is not prudent to trust to
the former source alone, we must seek to
keep supply always on hand in the soil.
And it is OF the first importance to provide
it for the young plant in its earlier stages
OF growth, for its presence aids the forma-
ton of cells, roots ana leaves and thus it
gives the young plant vigorous start. 1t
is stated by Weiska that the nitrogen left
upon the soil BY the stubble and roots of a
good average crop per acre of red clover
amounts to $50 pounds; of lupine, to fifty
eight pounds; Of peas, to fifty-three
pounds; of buckwheat, to forty-five; of
rye, sixty two pounds of oats, twenty-five;
barley, Twenty-Five; of wheat, twenty two
pounds. These figures correspond with
the practical experience of most farmers
who have taken any pans to observe and
compare the results of their varied farm
operations. 1t is apparent from these ex-
periments of DR.. Weiska that clover,
peas, buckwheat, rye, ETC., enrich the soil
be introduced into all rotations as frequent
ly as possible. EtES Is
Yet further, we cannot rely on these
crops for full supply of nitrogen as plant
food. We cannot dispense with stable
manure in the course of a single rotation
and expect to get maximum crops every
year and keep the soil fully up to the
highest standard of profit and excellence.
If we do we neglect one of the most
essential conditions of any rotation. A
rotation without manure is not proper
rotation.-DctrOit Tribune.
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