The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-04-11
gsratast 4alalies, and the quvet 9eus Of the asp
ROTATION OF CROPS RssENrIAL ro xRrp
PFERTILITY OF SOILS.


Fl sFHhs 9fsoSfEItAt 81 s0lts TO KEEP
The necessary steps toward an improved
husbandry are: l. To cultivate less land.
z To make that which is cultivated rich
in plant food, so that it may produce large
crops. 3. The practice of a rigid aystem
OF rotation of crops, and mixed farming.
4. The cultivation of the grasses and less
of hoed crops and feeding upon the farm
the most of its products. 5. Enrichinp the
land by turning under green crops. All
observation and experience 60 to show that
those sections OF the country are most pros
porous where mixed system of farming
prevails. Tie farmer who finds in his own
garners that which is needed to supply his
daily wants, is far removed from the vexa-
ton and losses attendant upon outside pur-
chases, which SO severely tax his means. It
is not unfrequently the case, when he pro-
duces but single article for the market.
that 1t commands price which but poorly
compensatcs him for his labor while he has
to pay exorbitant prices for that which he
is compelled to purchase. This is :sselline
the hide for penny, and buying back the
tail for shilling" which surely is not a
profitable transaction. Mixed agriculture
necessarily leads to system of rotation of
crops. which is the key TO successful farm
ing That there is vast recuperative DOW
or in lauds where a succession of different
crops is grown no one can deny in the light
OF universal experience. Thousands of
those who have hitherto devoted themselves
to single production-cotton, tobacco or
Grain-now acknowledge this error.
Successive crops of the same character
exhaust lands of the particular food lhev
require, with great rapidity. The aid which
nature so freely renders, where crops rotate.
is withheld in such system of cultivation,
because the farmer is violating her laws
10 fight against nature is to war at fearful;
odds, and it is not difficult to forecast the
result. To work in harmony with her. in
sures comparatively easy victory. Ono,
of the most beautiful of her provisions is.
that while one crop exhausts the soil of that
element which enters most largely into its
composition, by the operation Of some mys-,
ferrous law 1T prepares that same soil for
some other crop Oh different character
This Is q very curious and interesting pro-
cess OF nature, which results immensely to
our advantage if we expect her aid. As
an illustration Of this principle, We know
that Glover docs. NOT successfully follow
itself, although it leaves the ground
in the best possible condition for corn
or wheat. One crop, therefore, restores,
in measure, what another has taken.-
By raising continuously the same plant,
you interfere with this beautiful contri-
vance of nature to rebuild her wasted
strength.
Nature, therefore, will do much of our
work for US if we only second her efforts.
and give full scope to her beneficent laws.
1t IS, therefore, question for the farmer to
determine whether he will, by rotation of
crops, have soil thus enriched by drafts on
natures treasury or draw entirely upon his
own. l do not mean to argue that there
is nothing for the farmer to do to make his
lands productive. Far from it. But do
argue that he may make nature co-worksr
with him in attaining desirable end
Change is prominent feature in natures
economy. Cut down the forest of hard
wood and the pines succeed. Again. re.
move the pine and the hard wood reappears.
One kind of grass succeeds another. and
nature supplies the seed. These changes
give tho soil rest, to the end that the pro-
cess OF reinvigoration may so on. Day and
night succeed each other, and each per-.
forms its function in promoting vegetable
life. Eternal sunshine would result in
eternal blight The falling dew brings.
with it the nitrogen from the air to gladden.
vegetation. The sun appears. Its light
and heat liberate the acids and gases which
enter upon their work of usefulness in pre-
pairing variety of vegetable food. Win
ter and summer follow each other Frost
disintegrates and renders the earth porous,
opening the way for the heat and moisture
Of summer, 80 that chemical laws may work
out their beautiful results Thus unceas.
ingly, year after year, the silent agencies
are at work preparing the earth for mans use
that it may bring forth abundantly of eve-
rythlng which is necessary for his support.
Wm Fullerton iu Nep York Worid
A MOTHERS INFLUENcE.-Thomas II.
ABB Al