The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-08-07
AGRICULTURE.

ROTATION OF CRoPs.-The fact has
long been known that it is not best to
grow the same kind Of crop on the same
land for number Of years In success
sion. Thus, the yield Of corn, wheat,
oats, tobacco, or other crops, ifgrown on
the same land without change will
gradually diminish, while If tte csc crops
DO made to alternate, that Is, first one
then another, the aggregate product
will be much greater. This change is
tages OF rotation, or change Of crops,
result from the following consldera-
tlons: In tho first place, different crops
require elements In different proper
tions; ono requires more potash than
another, or lime, or phosphorlc acid, or
nitrogen, or some other constituent.
Potatoes require more potash than
wheat or corn, while these require more
phOsphoric acid; clover and tobacco
need Il great deal of lime, and 80 with
other crops. A number Of crops Of
potntoes In succession, without the
addition of potash In some form,
less the quantity be very largo. Before
this comes to pass, another crop that re-
quires less of potash but more Of some
other element mi hit grow we'll, while
tho potatoes would not flourish. In
the second place, rotation Of crops gives
time for the edisintegrating action Of the
atmosphere, rain and frost to prepare
new material from the rock particles in
the soil, and get it in form to be used
by the plant. One crop may use up the
available food Of u particular kind faster
than 1t can be prepared by these natural
agencies. In tho third place, rotation y
or change Of crop, when properly man
aged, enables one plant to prepare food
tap-roots deep down into tho soil, and
brings mp food to the surface. When
the roots decay, the whcat-plant that
has surface-roots mainly can use the
food prepared by the clover. In the
fourth place different crops require
different modes Of cultivation, so that
the physical properties Of the soil are
improved by rotation. Grass lands in
II few years become hard aud require
to be loo scned up, which can be done
by the cultivation OF crop of corn,
followed by one of wheat. and tho re-
sowing of glass. Not only is a change
OF crops desirable, but an occasional
change of seed is found to be u great
benefit. Wheat grown Oh stiff clay
lands for some years will be improved
sandy soil, and that OH sandy soil by
Obtaining wheat grown on stiff clay.
An occasional change Of seed from one
latitude to another is also found to be
beneficial. Crops that require the same
elements In about the same proportions
should not follow each other, nor those
that arc similar in their mode OF
growth. Wheat and corn which de-
pend mainly Oh sHrfacc-roots will do
well at cr clover, cotton, or tobacco,
which have long tap-roots that extend
down into the sub-soil. The greater
the difference In the constitution and
character of two crols, the more likely
arc they suited to follow each other.
terminlng the best rotation. a good
rotation for three years Is: First year,
corn; second year. wheat; third year.
clover a good four years. rotation Is
to allow the clover to remain two years.
In England, where corn Is not raised,
Il popular four years rotation is: First
year, turnips or other root crop; Sec
ond year, barley; third year clover;
fourth year, wheat. A six years. rot,l-
tion: clover, wheat (twO years. clover,
corn, wheat. For the tobacco planter,
Il good rotation is: First and second
year, clover; third year, tobncco;
fourth year, wheat. This will keep the
lnnd fertile, or even improve it. For
the cotton planter: First year, clover
or peas; second year, cotton third
year, wheat. In much Of the cotton
growing IN the South, cotton is grown
year after year without change, to the
great dctriment Of tho land, except,
perhaps, in river bottoms, where the
soil Is immensely rich and very deep.
II is best in the above rotation not 10
remove the crop OF clover, but let 1t lie
on The ground and be turned under at
the proper time.