Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-05-22
farmers Column.
A Good Rotation for Maryland or Vir-
ginia Farm.

he ldrul 10 De ulSlueu into tnree
main fields, or shifts, besides the or
chards and truck patches. Have the
fields about equal IN size, and, if the
shape Of the farm will admit, nearly
square in form. Number the fields l,
2 and 3, and for the first, pursue the
following rotation:
First year, corn, admitting field peas
or beans between the rows, if desirable.
The corn to have 200 pounds of nitrate
or other good corn fertilizer per acre.
The beans or peas, although minor
crop, will be so much extra, and will
60 far to pay the cost Of cultivating
the corn. Second Year, oats in the
spring, or with some extra labor, the
sane tall the corn comes off. Oats to
have 200 pounds of phosphate and 100
pounds of plaster broadcast to the
acre, and narrowed. Oats off in md
summer, and followed by wheat on the
oat stubble in the fall, wheat to have
400 pounds of lime broadcast per acre.
Glover sowed on wheat spring of third
year, and pastured in fall after wheat
harvest. In December the sod to be
broken with double team preparatory
to corn again the fourth year, which
will be the first again in the second
period of rotation.
Second field, first year, tobacco, with
200 pounds of nitrate or good tobacco
fertilizer per acre. Same fall SOW rye
to be turned down in the following
spring. The next year put the field
In corn, with beans or peas between
the rows, if wanted. Land to b. plow-
ed deeply with double pillow in Deem
Der, and have an application of 400
pounds of lime and 80 loads of good
forest mould per acre, broadcast, on
plowed surface to take the winter rains
and freezes. Third year, land in oats,
followed by drilled corn for fodder IN
July, or by field peas broadcast. to be
cut and cured in haulm, as winter feed
for cattle and sheep. Same land to e
plowed again in fall, preparatory to
tobacco again the fourth year Fifty
loads of stable or barnyard manure
would now be an excellent dose for
the coming tobacco crop.
Third field, first year. wheat previ-
GUS fall, with clover in the spring,
clover to be pastured after the wheat
harvest, and sod plowed under in De
cember. Second year tobacco, with
fertilizer. The same fall land plowed
deeply, and treated to so loads Of stock
pen manure or forest mould, to lie and
wither all winter. Third year, put
this field in corn, with peas or beans,
as previously stated for corn Wheat
will follow naturally after corn on
ibis field, and thus the three years
y .urse 6e completed FIR the three
slds. -
and now let us look~stthis system
as 1thte. 1t will be observed that
-a O. seap. crops are corn, tobacco and
MairI'.a a1o ard se,for lage part of
most relied upon. Oats&lA5n a crops
inent crop in the system, displacihs
wheat entirely the second year, and
dairy crops. Other minor crops will
be provided for on the part of the farm
set apart for trucks.
1t will be seen that this is rot an
expensive system as regards fertilizers,
and yet enough of these are used to in
sure profitable crops. The quantity
may be Increased to suit the views or
means of the farmer. Another prom
inent feature of this plan is, the fall
blowing for the leading crops. Near
ly all the heavy blowing is to be done
In the fall season. Without entering
upon the reason for this now, suffice
it to say that the subject itself is gain
ing prominence and many advocates
in almost all parts of the country, and
before long none but the most shift
less of farmers will leave the heavy
blowing for the spring season.
The above rotation gives the farmer
three staple crop each year. 1t also
provides for an ample stock of forage.
Of course it has its defect>, and some
will prefer to substitute other crops
for some named. Where tobacco is
not grown, oats, peanuts, or barley
may take its place.. ". j., IN Nary
land Farmer.