The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-03-12
ROTATION OF CROPS.
Views Expressed on This Subject at n
Farmers Institute In Wisconsin.

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Farmers Institute In Wisconsin.
Rotation Of crops was tha subject Of
one talk at an institute at Bloomington,
Wis, and reported by Prairie Farmer.
George McKelTow said:
"Where one crop is produced continu.
ally the soil becomes worn out much
Iaster than when some rotation iuclud.
ing clover is followed. Certain crops
draw more heavily on certaia kinds of
plant food than others. For this reason
alone it is advisable to follow one crop
with another Of different nature.
Then, again, the land is improved by
the tillage received in the rotation. A
good rotation must include the clover
crop and the hoed crop, such as corn,
potatoes, etc, All farmers know that
clover is a great fertilizer it is a nitro
gen crop, as it adds this valuable con.
stituent of plant life to the soil. But
many farmers do not seem to be aware
that a hoed crop also renders the soil
more productive. Tillage adds nothing
to the soil, but it liberates much fertil-
ity by breaking up the soil and making
it fine. Good culture also conserves
moisture. Rotation of crops also keeps
the land clearer-more free from weeds
because of the cultivated crops"
Being asked, What is a good rota.
tion?" Mr.. McKerrow said 1--WE will
commence with "A clover sod. Apply all
manure made on the farm to this clover
As soou as possible in the spring go on
to this clover with smoothing harrow
and drag the manure oil to pieces. We
take of one crop Of clover hay from this
field, then plow it for corn. We like to
follow clover with corn, potatoes and
root crops. A clover sod is several de-
grees warmer than any other soil. 1t is
also full of humus and is in just the
condition wherein corn roots luxuriate
We follow the hoed crops with winter
wheat and oats and seed to clover This,
you see, carries clover and manure over
the farm once in four years and keeps
our farm fertile and free from weeds. "
'How do you manage to succeed with
clover?" was next asked. The reply was
eve sow about 100 acres Of small grain
annually, and on every acre we SOW
clover, also apply 200 pounds Of salt and
90 pounds Of land plaster to each acre.
Of course this clover is not all sJwn for
meadow or pasture, but we like to have
the ground covered with some growing
crop throughout the season. All clover
sown with spring grain will not live,
but much of it will, and where it does
live it shades the land, adds fertility
and affords feed. When we SOW for
meadow and want a good and sure
stand, we SOW the seed on winter wheat
very early in the spring, OH a light
snow if possible We also SOW clover
alone early in the spring"
Some one asked how salt benefited the
land. Mr.. McKerrow replied "Salt has
a strong affinity for moisture. 1t also
adds silica to the straw, making it more
glossy and stiff. 1t costs by the carload
So per ton. l have tried salt only on
clay land, but would give it a trial on
all soils. "
Do you advise blowing manure down
deep?" was asked. The reply given was
"Cerrainly not. 1t will rot much
faster, work into the soil quicker and
sooner become available as plant food
If plowed shallow; heat, air and mois.
ture can also act upon it to better advan.
tage. Should the manure be a little
coarse and turned down deep the mois.
ture in dry season as it is drawn to the
surface would be stopped by the ma
nure, consequently the growing roots
above would suffer. "