Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-08-20
ROTATION OF CROPS.
A Judicious Rotation the Work of a Skill.
full and Successful Farmer.

"A SuulctouS hDtdtlOu tue VoTk VI ShtAf
full and Successful Farmer.
Our most skillful and successful farm.
ers are those who pay particular atten-
ton to a judicious rotation of crops,
and allow their lands to rest when rest
is necessary. No matter how fertile
the soil may be, constant cropping with
one or two kinds of grain which feed
upon the same elements of plant food
will soon result in permanent exhaus-
ton. Every system of culture which
does not bring from an outside source
the materials that crops feed upon and
carry away must ultimately cause the
soil to suffer in fecundty. As nitrogen,
phosphoric acid and potash are the
most important elements of plant food,
it is necessary that such crops be grown
in succession as do not require the same
substance in equal amount. 1t is best
TO alternate with the narrow leayed
cereals, such as wheat, oats and rye,
those having broad leaves, as clover,
corn and root crops. Perpendicular
roofing plants ought to succeed such as
root horizontally. Two plants favora-
BILE to the growth of weeds ought not
to succeed each other. Grain and oil
plants should only be grown at inter-
walls, unless the soil is in excellent con-
diton. Plants which prove the most
exhaustive should invariably be alter
mated with those of an opposite charac
ter. Clover is of special value in rota-
ton, as the shade produced by its rank
growth of foliage favors the develop
ment and storage of heterogeneous matter
near the surface, while the roots reach
far down into the subsoil and bring up
valuable mineral elements.
Another advantage gained by rota-
ton is that it affords the land an oppor-
tun;ty to rest. The length of this rest
should be determined by the supply of
vegetable matter in the soil. The less
the quantity the longer and more fire.
quent should be the periods of rest and
recuperation. On most lands a system
invols ing a rest every fourth year is adj
visable. The leading object in any sys-
tenn of rotation should be to realize the
highest profit from our land, and, at the
same time, to preserve or increase its
fertility With a limited supply of
manure, as there is on most farms. we
believe that rotation is indispensable 10
good farming When manures can be
bought in any desired quantity rota-
ton of the same may be substituted, in
part at least, for one of crops, as is
generally practiced by market garden
eTs.
Farmers should adopt that rotation
which will leave the soil in the best
possible condition, bearing in mind the
fact that every bushel of grain pro-
duced or pound of meat carried off the
farm reduces the productive capabili-
ties of the land by exactly the amount
of plant food they contain. The great
problem of profitable farming consists
in making the soil increasingly fertile.
He who builds up bank account at the
expense of the fertility of his soil is not
to be considered a wise husbandman
or successful farmer. There is no bet
ter safe deposit for farm profits than
re:nvesting them in the farm itself. Not
only is it safe deposit, but any invest
ment made in this direction is certain
to yield paving dividend annually
O amaze COu,afu Farmer