Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-01-03
Advantage OF Crop Rotation.

by other States in practicing extensive
agriculture during the development pc
Rod, and only within recent years has
the State begun to appreciate and to
make S Of those sections which have
especial fitness for intensive agricul-
ture. Evidence Of the deyelopm ent in
I this phase Of its industrial life is now
found in the large number of men
who are practicing fruit and truck
growing. During the first period of
development Of this State cattle rails
ing was a great means for transform
ing the natural agricultural resources
into a product which could be mar
keted. Following upon the develop
ment of the cattle industry come the
tendency to develop the production
of the staple farm crops, corn, wheat
and oats. In the practicing of field
agriculture. which would normally
include the raising of staple crops,
a system Of rotation has been found
to yield the best results. The practice
called crop rotation has been a matter
of growth and development due to cir
CullSluICCS Illu as IOL III lit DeS1u-
ming based upon scientific principles.
1t should be stated here that by a
rotation of crops is meant the planting
of different crops on the same piece Of
land in successive seasons. This plant
ing must involve a change in regular
order.
The custom of growing different
crops in rotation, While largely a mat
ter Of conditions. does possess certain
advantages. First, it proiongs the
period of profitable culture. This is
due to the fact that plants vary largely
i'll their feeding capacities. Many
plants feed in the surface layers and
therefore draw their food almost
wholly from that portion of the soil
other plants are deep feeders. The
two classes alternated give to the soil
periods of comparative rest. 1t should
also be kept in mind that certain crops
require more of some one particular
element in the soil than other crops.
When these two classes are in a rota-
ton the sod is given an opportunity
to rest. Again, when the farm is pro-
dUcingy bu n crop a year the soil is
left bare at certain seasons, while the
growth of a variety OF crops permits Of
a continuous covering and constant
use. Practically speaking, there is no
soil which is not improved by cropping.
In the language of Jethro Tull, Til
lage is Manure"
The continuous growth of one crop
renders it more liable TO insect attack
and to the development of diseases
called rot and blight. 1t is a well
known fact that crops lose vigor by
being grown year after year, and are
therefore less able to withstand insect
ravages. A change is also valuable
because it %deprives any particular in
sect pest of its food and is therefore
likely to cause it to disappear.
The majority of Il farm crops get
their food entirely from the soil and
in many cases these crops are grown
for their grain. In such case their nj
trogen, potassium and PHOSPHORUS
are being disposed of constantly by
selling the seeds of the plants grown.
On the other hand. leguminous plants.
such as peas. beans, alfalfa, etc, get
most Of their nitrogen from the air.
1t will be noted then that the removal
of such crops from the soil does not
decrease it's supply of nitrogen, there
fore a rotation including some one of
the legumes such as alfalfa. cowpeas
or beans, lessons the necessity of sup
plying nitrogen to the soil.
The problem of efficient labor on the
farm is also made more simple by the
adoption Of a system Of crop rotation.
The farmer is enabled thereby to keep
labor employed throughout the entire
year, thus avoiding the necessity for
short term service. Such a provision
also allows the farmer to keep his ami
mails employed throughout the year
instead of allowing them to stand idle
a considerable portion of the time.
Finally. the business of the farmer
requires Il steady and regular income
in order that he may provide for neces-
sary tools, seeds and implements. and
also that he may pay wages when
due. A steady and regular income
allows him 20 Go business On a cash
basis and tins 10 take advantage OF
opportunities in buying. He can by
this meal 90 business on a smaller
capital than would be required in the
credit system. The rules which lead
to the adoption of the system of rota-
ton under present conditions are gen
eral and not fixed. To grow such crops
as pay the greatest returns per acre
should be the aim, and rotations should
be so modified that the less profitable
crops should contribute as much as
possible to the development of the
more profitable. Whistler a crop is
profitable or not will depend upon the
character Of the soil, climate, availa-
bility of farm labor. location and mar
kets.-F. S. Johnston. Agriculturist,
Texas Experiment Station.
Feeding Value of the Corn Plant.
A, D, w, RidgeWay, writes: Kindly