Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-07-16
Rotation of Crops.

ii. Il. =, RACINE, WIS, asks: w Nat IS
the proper course of rotation for farm
crops? And how is the rotation to be kept
up when bad seasons intervene to break in
to the plan laid down?
The rotation must be adapted to the soil
and climate. In Central Illinois, for in
stance, 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 pasturage and hay; if
the manure made is carted back to the
fields, and the corn stalks plOwed in, the TO-
tation 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.
In 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 clover or timothy sod {;
corn and roots may follow; then oats and
barley.
A portion of the farm may be broken
and a portion reseeded each year. And the
more grass raised and the more stock kept,
the easier, and, as a rule, the more profita-
BILE, 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 necessities of the case
must suggest.
If, for instance, grass tails 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 ofthe popular fallacies, to our mind
and this is the result of experiments
that land runs out The fact is, any nat
urally fertile soil may be cultivated indef-
initely, and without impairment, if q
proper rotation be established and means
are used to save the manure resulting
from the material fed to stock. These,
and keeping the mechanical texture of the
soil intact, are the three principal requi-
sites. 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 be-
gin to fail. Then it will raise some other
crop for time But, if this course is
pursued in time the land is exhausted.
Hence the necessity of rotation to enable
the soil to reacquire it's proper pabulum
from the depths of the soil, the air, and the
manure applied. Cultivation enables the
soil to reacquire proper constituents from
that great storehouse, the air, in which is
hold II <@c e..
and which only require proper conditions
to enable deposition in the soil
Some soils-alluvial river-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 APP
parent diminution. But these soils are
subject to overflow, by which heavy de-
posts of silt and mud are left.
= Plants of different kinds require differ
ent 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 wheel
plant, for instance, delights in soil rich
in the phosphates; corn wants potash and
nitrogen; clover grows luXuriantly under
the application of gypsum, for it sets free
elements contained in the air and soil nee
essary to sustain growth.
Years ago a summer fallow was consid-
cred necessary to the renovation of the
soil. The filth brought about by success
sive plowings does enable soils to take up
much valuable matter from the air; but
with clean culture and crop of corn or
other fallow crop growing the same pur-
pose is subserved. Recent experience 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 practiced.
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 consistent with
the continued fertility of his soil. Ma
lures rotation is a very simple one, and
yet very effective. Oaks succeed pines :;
particular soils produce particular classes
of trees; or many varieties adapted to q
given soil may grow together. As one
tree falls and decays another sort springs
up in its place, and so the succession is
kept up from century to century.
The prairies produce variety of grass
es and plants that are continually succeed
ing each other. Herbivorous animals eat