Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-22
ROTATION OF CROPS.
Vermont Farmer.

kinds Of trees start mp from those
which have previously occupied the
ground. The different trees vary in
their composition both as to their
organic and inorganic elements. In
order that any plant may mature, it
must be supplied with every element
that enters into its composition. 1t
will readily be seen that when crop
has been taken that requires large
amount of potash, it may have
left the soil so deficient in soluble
potash that another good crop of
the same kind cannot be taken
off until an available supply Of
this element is furnished, either
by being artifcially applied, or
through the agencies of nature.
While this is true, another kind
into which potash does not large
ly enter, may find abundant food to
develop an excellent crop.
We as farmers do not sufficiently
study the composition of our differ
ent crops, and the elements the soil
of our farms must contain in availa-
BILE form for them TO feed upon in
order to grow and develop into per-
feet maturity. We cannot expect
grain to grow with finely developed
stalks and perfect ears in soil de-
fcient in proper nutIimen in availa-
BILE form. 1t is folly to go on trying
tc grow the same kind Of crops year
after year on the same ground, if
there be any better way, way
in which we may assist mother Ma
ture in her exhausting and exhaust
i've efforts. Poor mother Nature
sometimes has hard time OF it try
ing to make up deficiencies caused
by our mistakes.
Fertilizers OF any kind are, though
necessary, expensive. 1t is better to
study to find out, first, what certain
crops require; second, so far as pos
sible, the general composition of our
soils. Then try to follow crop
which exhausts one element, by The
crop we have found in our list re-
auiring least OF that same element for
it's development. And all this while
nature, in her laboratory is at work
never idle for a storing the
exhausted soil anew with the virtues
that 1T possessed of old. We are told
how soon worn out piece of land
will renew itself if we assist nature a
little by turning the soil loosely up
to the dissolving influences of the
sun and rain. All those lacking ele-
ments which have been held prisoners
in the soil will be liberatedto work in
the forming of food for man.
There is no pursuit in this busy
world of ours that requires, for its
successful pursuit, more real study
more scientific research Old farmers
laugh and shake their heads wisely
at what they are pleased to call
ok-farming." Yet you will hear
these same farmers cautioning their
sons or their neighbors against some
thing which experience had taught
them was not we'll for them to do.
You see they had read tin the book
of nature, but if it were to be set
down in paper or Il book, in good
language and accurate fgurings, they
would sneer at it as "book- farming"
and never think of needing its les
son.
All things we learn from really
valuable book on agriculture or
chemistry are, or ought to be, sup
plemented by actual experiment
experiment as actual and practical
as the old farmers himself, and since
those who have tried these expert
ments with all their costly attending
work, have been kind enough to give
us, in plain language, the results
OF their labor, we surely ought to
have sense enough to profit by their
failures or successes. We must not
follow blindly the rule which worked
we'll on some farm in an adjoining
county or State, but adapt its teach
ings to our own surroundings, and
the requirements Of our own soil.
If your neighbor, whose soil is the
,.,,., "a, ,-n,,rc boc y,n1a 81