The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-01-22
FARMER AND PLANTER.
ROTATION OF CROPS.
A Subject that Should Receive the Atten-
ton of Southern Farmers.

A Subject that Should Receive the Atten-
ton of Southern Farmers.
In the cotton States, and particularly
since the war, too little attention has
been given to the subject of rotation of
crops. The farmer will soon be shaping
his plans for another year, and it would
be well to let this matter enter into his
plans. BY heavy and proper manuring
and cultivation it is practicable to raise
good crops of the same plant on the
same field for many years in success
sion. But it is not question simply
as to whether this can be done. but
rather, whether it can be done cheap
ly, economically and with greatest
profit. Let it ever be borne in mind
that clear profit is the measure OF sue
cess in farming. The temptation with
our farmers is to plant the most of their
land in cotton. The result is the same
land is planted year after year in cot
ton. Now, the cultivation of cotton ex-
hausts the supply of humus in the soil
very rapidly. The immediate result of
this is the soil loses its friability. runs
together, bakes, crusts and requires
more labor to keep it in proper filth.
Even supposing the crops raised on it
continue to be equally large, the labor
account to make them constantly
increases, and the profit decreases
c0rrespondingly, to say nothing of
the washing away of the soil and
the loss from teaching, which
takes place rapidly in a soil so con-
stantly stirred and left bare so large a
portion of the year. We give this sim
ply as an example. 1t is true in all
cases where the same crop is cultivated
continuously on same land. In all the
densely-populated portions of the
world, where every thing possible must
be gotten out of che land to sustain the
population, and where in consequence
agriculture has been stimulated to its
greatest perfection, a rotation of crops
is the prevailing rule. This is ar
ranged with most perfect system and
pursued with unvarying regularity. 1t
lightens labor, increases production
and conserves the fertility of the soil.
Rotation of crops has been found bene-
fetal by the test of experience. but is
founded on sound theoretical consider
atoms.
1. While all crops tend to exhaust the
soil, they do so with unequal rapidity.
Hence, when the soil has been so de-
pleted by one crop that it will fail to
bring good yields of it, different crop
may find suficiency of food in the soil
to cause full yield of it
2. Again some plants draw more large
~ on the soil for certain kinds of food
than do others. Hence, soil NAV be
exhausted to the first and vet bring
good crops of the second. And while
this second crop is on the land, natural
processes will have time to restore OF
render available in the soil those condi-
lions which have been exhausted by the
FIRST crop.
8. Again, some plants feed by deer
and some by shallow roots. Hence, ii
happens that whilst deep-rooted crop
is on the land, the surface soil has Cd.
portunity to recuperate, and while a
shallow rooted crop is on the land, the
deeper soil has time to renew it's fer
tility.
4. Again, some crops leave much
more residues on the land than others.
Grains and grasses fill the soil with
vegetable matter; cotton and corn con-
tribute little of it
5. The continued cultivation of the
same crop on land breeds injurious in.
sects and fungi on it. This is true OF
smut in corn, and of an insect which in
some parts of the land attacks the lower
joints and roots and greatly damages
the crops.
g. The cultivation of some crops
cleanses the land from the noxious
weeds, whilst others do not Crab grass
is worse after oats than after most other
crops.
At present it seems hard to find anv
other money crop susceptible of extend
ed cultivation under our SURROUNDINGS
except cotton. Outside of money crons.
food crops for stock are most needed Inv
our farmers OF these oats are bv far
the best we can raise, and the
Attenuation of cotton and oats
make short but most excellent
rotation. One is shallow rooted.
to the her deep rooted. One is a cleans
ing, Misunderstanding crop, the other is
humus producing. One gives the land
little rest from the pillow, the other gives
1t long rest. A-three year rotation.
two years in succession in cotton and
one in oats, would not be so good, but it
might supply enough stock food and
meet better the demand for a large
money crop. We commend this subject
to the careful consideration of the read
er. Let him study it ia the light of
his special surroundings and of his
wants. Southern Farm.
MAKING PORK.
Effect OF an Exclusive Corn Ration an