The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-07-22
4arm ann DARN.
Rotation of Crops.

f. T. Y, Racine, Wis, asks: What
is the proper course of rotation for farm
crops? And how is the rotation to be
kept up when bad seasons intervene to
break into the plan laid down?
The rotation must be adapted to the
soil and climate. In Central Illinois
for instance, corn is the staple crop; and
this is, or should be, fed to cattle and
hogs. Now, if proper proportion of
the farm is in grass, to produce pastur-
age and hay; if the manure made is
cirted back to the fields, and the corn
stalks plowed in, the rotation is a simple
matter-simply corn and grass with but
small proportion of small grain; and
in this way, if the soil be not plowed or
cultivated when wet, its fertility may be
kept pretty well intact.
L. Wisconsin, wheat, oats and barley
constitute an important part Of the rota-
ton; and potatoes and other root-crops
take the place, in some measure, of the
corn. Grass, however, is everywhere
the prime renovator of soils. Thus,
wheat may be sown on a clover or timo-
thy soil; corn and roots may follow;
the oats and barley.
A portion of the farm may be broken
and portion reseeded each year. And
the more grass raised and the more
stock kept, the easier, and, as a rule,
the more profitable, the farming
If untoward seasons interfere with
the system adopted, the only way is to
get back to the regular rotation as soon
as possible. This the particular neces-
sites of the case must suggest.
IF, for instance, grass fails to catch,
more must be sown the next year, and
less meadow must be broken up until
the proper ratio of grass is again had
So with other crops
One of the popular fallacies, to our
mlnd-and this is the result of expert
ence-is that land runs out. The fact
is, any naturally fertile soil NAV be
cultivated indefinitely, and without i'm
pairment, if a proper rotation be estab-
llshed and means are used to save the
manure resulting from the material fed
to stock. These, and keeping the me-
chanical texture of the soil intact, are
the three principal requisites. More
rich soils have been rendered infertile by
blowing and cultiyating when wet than
by any other means whatever And
the older the country, and the longer
the land is cropped, the more apparent
the necessity for rotation.
A soil being new and fertile. it will |
raise particular crop successfully until
the constituents necessary to this crop
begin to fail. Thel it will raise some
other ,ro) for a time But, If this
course Is pursued, in time the land is
exhausted. Hence the necessity off
rotation. to enable the soil to reacquire
its proper pabulum from the depths Of
the soil, the air, and the manure ap-
piied Cultivation enables the soil to
reacqulre proper constituents from that |
great storehouse, the air, in which is
constantly held the elements of fertility
and which only require proper condi-
tons to enable disposition in the soil.
Some soils alluvirl rirer-bottoms.
for instance. as the Miami lands in
Ohio, the Illinois River bottoms and |
the American bottom on the Mississippi !
River-produce heavy crops year after
year without apparent diminutlon. But
these soils are subject to overflow, by
which heavy deposits of silt and mqi
are left.
Plants of different kinds require diff |
ferent food, just as animals do. 1t is
the province of the good farmer to know
enough of these necessary requirements
to SO adjust his crops and rotation that
they may be properly supplied. The |
wheelplant, for instance, delights in
soil rich in the phosphates; corn wants
potash and nitrogen; clover grows luxu-
riantly under the application of gyTsum,
for it sets free elements contained in the
air and soil necessary to sustain growth.
\ ears ago a summer-fallow was con- /
sidered necessary to the renovation of
the soil. The filth brought about by
successive plowings does enable soils to
take up much valuable matter from tie
air; but with clean culture and crop
of corn or other fallow crop growing the
same purpose is subserved. Recent ex-
perience has shown that naked fallows
are not the best means of renovating the
soil, nor are they necessary where a
judicious system of cultivation is prac-
ticed.
What is needed is that every farmer
should study the capabilities of his soil
and adopt such rotation and culture as
is best suited to his situation, so that
he may get the best present returns con-
sistent with the continued fertility of
his soil. Natures rotation is & very
simple one, and yet very effective. Oaks
succeed pines; particular soils produce
particular classes of trees; or many va
rieties adapted to given soil may grow
'ogether. As one tree falls and decays