West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-09-04
ROTATION OF CROPS.
A Judicious Rotation the Work of a Skill
fuI and Successful Farmer.

a Judicious Rotation the Work of a Skill
fui 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
viii 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
oil To- suder i'm feCundty. As nitrogen,
phosphoric acid and potash are the
most important elements of plant food,
1t is necessary that such crops be grown
IN succession rs do not require the same
substance in equal amount. IL is best
TO alternate with the narrow-leaved
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-
bic 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 i'm excellent con-
diton. Plants which prove the most
exhaustive should invariably be alter
mated with those OF an opposite charac-
tst. Clover IS of special value i'm rOta-
ton, as he shade produced by it's rank
growth of foliage favors the develop
ment AMI storage OF heterogeneous matter
near the surface, while the roots reach
far down into the subsoil and bring up
valuable mineral clements
Another advantage gained by rota-
tion is that II affords the land an oppor-
tunity 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.
qucnt should be the periods of rest and
recuperaton. On most lands n system
involving rest every fourth year is adj
visable. The leading object in any sys-
TEN OF rotation should be to realize the
highest profit from our land, and. mt tho
same time, TO preserve or increase its
fertility. With limited supply of
manure. as there Is on most farms. we
believe thet rotation is Indispensable TO
good farming When manures can be
bought in any desired quantity rota-
ton of the same may he substituted. i'm
part at least for one of crops. as is
generally practiccd by market garden
crs
Farmers should adopt that rotation
which viii leave the soil i'm tho best
possible condition bearing i'm mind the
fact That every bushcl OF grain pro
duccd or pound Of meat carried off tho
farm reduces the productive capabili.
ties oi the land by exactly the amount
Of Plant food thcy contain. The great
problem Of profitable farming consists
iu making the soil increasingly fertile
Tic who builds up bank account at the
expense Of the fertility Of his soil is not
To- Boz considered % wise huslandman
or successful farmer There is no boz
ter safe deposit for farm profits than
J. Dvesting them n the farm itself Not
My is DO o safe deposit. but any invest
mon made in this direction Is certain
Co. yield a paying dividend annually. --
y aRGc COUnty Farmer