The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-15
The Rotation of Crops.

Philadelphia Record.
The land gives the largest crops when
the farmer provides plant foods literally
and rotates the crops grown. When the
farm is forced to yield to its fullest
pacity there is taken from the soil those
elements that principally constitute its
riches or fertility, and unless the soil is
provided with materials containing those
elements of fertility it will in the course
of time fail 10 repay for the labor and
capital required in its cultivation. Many
farmers are aware Of that fact, and use
barnyard manure and commercial fertiliz-
ers in order to supply the deficiency. The
farmers have within their power, however,
the means by which the soil can be recu-
perated and restored to fertility. and every
enterprising farmer takes advantage OF
such opportunities in order to bring his
farm to the highest degree of productive
ness. The practice of some system of rota-
ton of crops is now considered essential
TO good farming, and experience teaches
that nothing viii equal rotation or crops
in maintaining fertility, in proportion TO
cost, although quicker methods may be re-
sorted to if the expense is not matter Oh
consideration in the work.
1t is not difficult TO understand how ro-
tation of crops benefits the land, for plants,
like animals, differ in their modes or eX-
istence and capacity for feeding When
field is occupied by clover the growing or
matured crop, when plowed under or FED
TO stock on the farm, and then returned to
the farm in the form of manure, adds addl-
tional plant food TO the soil. When fed to
animals only a portion of the crop is re-
turned, but when the whole crop is ploWeu
under then the quantity is large. II crop
of clover is too valuable for blowing under
there is the advantage of the sod and roots
adding more fertility TO the soil. clover Is
a crop that demands both lime and potash,
and requires but little applied nitrogen 10
make growth, but by shading the soil and
utilizing the free nitrogen OF the air, as
sisted by bacteria in the soil, 1t returns 10
the soil more nitrogen than do those crops
TO which nitrogen must be applied. AS
clover takes from the soil considerable
lime and potash, when the crop is plowed
under then these mineral elements are In
better condition for use by the next crop,
while larger proportion of nitrogen is also
left in the soil than existed before the
clover is grown. Experience has taught
farmers that wheat and corn are capable OF
Milling places in the rotation, ana hence on
some farms there is system OF rotation
by which grain, clover and potatoes are
used, wheat and corn being nearly always
grown when clover is the mainstay OF the
source of fertility in the rotation
Rotation is also intended to destroy weeds
on farms. In some sections the practice Is
/ TO have "A hoe crop; that is, in ADDITION 10
the use of the cultivatOr, the hoe is used
at least once over the cornfield in order to
/ more thoroughly eradicate weeds, but
/ farmers OBJECT TO the ldDOT Oh nOtllS COIL,
| and resort TO the growing of potatoes, cab
/ bageS, turnips carrots if the hoe is neceS-
| Sary. Those who use the hoe in the corn
| field claim that while the cost of labor is
! greater, yet the weeds are more completely
| removed But no system Of rotation can
| be said to be complete, however, that does
| not include some kind of crop that requires
! the hoe, such as carrots or potatoes, While
! in some countries, such as England, the
rotation also includes the hurdling of sheep
/ on the ground, turnips and rape being
i grown for the animals to feed off the land.
! Farmers should not therefore, use a mar
/ row system of rotation, but aim to employ
| as many crops as possible, as the land Will
/ then suffer less from loss of plant food and
| the fertility of the soil viii be more easily
| maintained.
All soils contain fertility TO a certain de-
| gree, and even in the most fertile soils
| there are dominant or inSoluble substances,
! varying in composition, but which cannot
| be appropriated by some crops, though east
! ly available for others, but if such elements
/ not appropriated by the crop occupy
/ ing the ground they are gradually being re-
| duced or changed in composition so as to be
/ put in condition for the succeeding crop;
/ hence rotation, therefore, not only prevents
| the loss of certain substances in the soil,
| but assists in converting the locked-up ele-
ments of the soil into available plant foods.
| In this country system Of rotation is
/ deemed complete without clover, while in
i England turnips and sheep are considered
! essential to success. Rotation largely de-
| ponds upon the soil and its condition. but
4 all soils are subject to mechanical changes.
/ il is being demonstrated that green crops
/ are valuable in restoring fertility and lime
has been found a valuable assistant, espe-
! cially N preparing the soil for the work Of
bacteria by neutralizing the acidty, but
varying the crops grown but also by study
/ ing the characteristics of the soil.