The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-01-25


Every one has his own ideas of rotation
Some plant corn, SOW wheat, etc., for years
speak of general principles. Many crol
only 10 see how many bushels they can &c
without regard TO the number of acres. w
know better. We must try 10 get the larges
number of bushels from given number o
acres. and have our soil in good condition.
He gave some interesting history, and thos'
farmers who wish good food for their minds
on this subject and who have not heard Prof
Ingersoll's paper, will do well to watch for j
in full as it will be given in the Report of th'
State Board of Agriculture for 1877. W.
must have some regularity in cropping
Changing localities is often advantageous
changing soil is not TO be disregarded. Ii
1857 we first find turnips raised between
grain crops. One farmer, travelling in France
in 100. said We need only have thorough
culture. In 1900 We find the first use of gu
ano and other fertilizers. Since 1900 various
systems of rotation have been used III oui
state. Here are a few general principles:
1st. Must select such crops as are adapted
to our soil. No two places or two farms will
require the same.
I'd. Select such crops as will riyen WE'LL
Use only those adapted TO our climate.
Sd. Look to markets TO see what will sell
well, and leave the ground in good condition
for the next crop.
Here is food for study. We have not hint
ed at the minute details necessary. We must
not decide too definitely but be ready 10 ac-
cept new ideas when they prove better than
the older. We can't figure to-day for twenty
years ahead.
The following are few of the advantages
derived from iuliciOuS rotation
1st. In fencing his farm into fields which
can be done only by using some order. Neat
ness Is worth something
I'd. Can estimate size of buildings necessa-
ry. Can get at it exactly with "a common
school education. If we would store all our
grain We must produce nearly the same amt
each year.
3D.. Can estimate for stable room for cattle.
sheep or horses. Can keep nearly uniform
amount of stock, so We can tell how much we
can turn off. Farmers need to keep more. /
don't believe that farmers will do better to
run to specialties than to work to plan in
general husbandry. He called attention to
the test i'll England and the conditions re-
luired III test under direction of the Royal
Society. Various prizes were offered. The
farm that took first prize was that of a Mrs.
Birch-black soil, sandy subsoil, generally
evel. Kept Ii horses, Is cattle and 10 swine.
Used one thousand tons of manure and some
litrates of soda. Grew roots. barley and
wheat. Had been well managed for n series
If years. Judges visited the farm three times
Turing the year. Her husband had improved
I by understanding, putting hedges III place
If old fences and had adopted a good rota-
ion. We read of an elderly couple in New
York, with only four acres. who rotated be-
ween fowls and corn. He raised corn on
lalf one year and then put hens there and
orn on the other half. But this may not
asst. Guano tends to produce more leaf and
lot corresponding increase of ear.
.. Farmers with eight products to turn off
7il suffer less from low prices than those
aising special crops.
9th. Can calculate for the amount of fer
llizers needed
18th. Can estimate for the amount of labor |
eeded. Farmers need To distribute their
'ork through the year.
Sth. Judicious rotation enables US to keep |
ur fields free from weeds
9TH Can arrange for implements. Two |
irmers could own machines together and es-
mate their work very WELL and so do for
ich other. All cannot afford to own all the
IMPLEMENTS needed on farm. This has been
in France. There machines are
wned by the government. and are kept in
,wn. They are loaned To the fariners-the
mailer ones for one day only, but reapers.
C., for two or three days. The machines are
ell cared for and last much longer than with
lie farmers of this country.
10. 1t gives the farmer chance to take adj
lntage of the market. Those who keep all
)gs will lose generally. We need mixed
He concluded by saying he could
IT mark out a rotation for any one. Each
ust make his own, and adapt it to the con-
tons of soil, climate and capital and size of
rm. If the farmers had picked up some
cas- of what they should do so that they will
ink for themselves they will easily work
It a rotation for themselves.
II. S. Rogers. of Nolinia. Cass county, gave I
fine paper on Root Culture. He exhibited
Mangle Wurzel weighing ten an one half I
FUNDS. He favored root culture. Found
ey left the ground i'll good condition. made 8
od feed, did not injure the taste of the {
liter or of the milk and that stock would {
better than on any other kind of food ]
at can he SO easily raised. He fed his cattle !
they would eat. He wanted them to have !
e bushel day. I
Daniel w. Abrams, of Paw Paw, read Q
ort paper on manures He thought farm
would do iwell to make use of alkaline l
lck. He considered cold, sour muck good I
nothing if not actually injurious.
Capt. j. X. Hendryx made some remarks on ,
eding Stock for Market. He said he was !
ry ignorant about the subject, never hav- :
z fed stock for market, he therefore had no J
perience III that line. He said, however,
1t if he should raise stock to sell he should l
st give them warm and comfortable quar- :.
IS. well ventilated, and as good bedding as
could get. Then the managers should be
ept out after every feeding. and kept clean, =
he knew animals liked a clean place to eat
well as man. He should curry his stock e
Try day, and would allow no harsh treat =
mt whatever to any one of them, as quiet :
/ tranquility We're better fattening agents =
IN worry and fear. He greatly favored the =
1t feed, and thought better of it than all i
y and grain.
John Smolk, of Antwerp, read paper on q
,ck running at large. Sc said that it was
yer by law but by common consent that n
tie were permitted to run at large. AS the n
to settled up, and the land became occu- I;
d and improved, it became less necessary "
stock to run at large, and objections be- h
l to be made to the practice. The matter n
into the cou,ta and IL WAS decided that |