Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-06-24

AhtIF tlN NaliouN lntinOOt or 1n-
creasing the yield OF crops besides
tillsge ana the use OF fertilizers: and
one OF the most important Of these
methods is crop rotation. or the grow
ing of difr"-cnt kinds OF plants on the
same land from year 20 year instead
OF taking the same kind Of crop CON
tinUously from the same land and
that some crops will not grow wSll
after others. and that some kinds OF
plants actually grow better immediate
" after the land has been occupied 10y
certain other kinds For example.
rcd clover ceases TO thrive after wheat:
also wheat seldom does well when
Sown after barley.
All plants remove from the land
more or less of the fertilizing mat
ters when carried of from the land.
But all plants 60 not carry off the
same kind OF fertilizers nor do they
carry of the same amounts. All plants
do not draw equally upon the fertiliz-
ing ingredients OF the soil For in
stance. one crop may consume 4 large
amount of nitrogen. another may ex-
haust the soil In phoSphoric acid. while
sull another may require potash. How
ever al plants require some of these
three ingredients: but I'm different pro-
portions. Root crops" for example
such MS potatoes beets turnipS. etc
need a liberal amount OF potash and
phosphoric acid. Forage plants-corn.
Tor inStaucc-needS nitrogen 90 produce
the leaves and stems. while cotton re-
Quiros a small amount OF nitrogen and
potash. but a liberal supply Of puos-
phoric acid. which goes To form seed
ana lint. Hcncc it is obvious that some
plan OF rotation should bc adopted iu
order 20 prevent the land becoming de-
hcient I'm some one or more OF these os-
scntial elements.
The following rules for rotation may
be Of advantage:
such plants as tend particularly 20
exhaust the soil. like grain crops.
should only be sown on fertile land.
and they should not exceed one ans
other. but may best DE followed 10y
plants that are less cxhaustng.
ON heavily MANFRED fields. such
crops should Doe planted rs can bear
the most fresh manure. while less
exhaustive plants may follow.
IL is generally advantageous 10 ~
tcrnate crops that have top roots with
those that have spreading roots.
No two crops favorable 10 the growth
Of insects and fungi should be per
mittcd 20 succeed each other. IL B..
very essential i'm many cases 70 chang,
The crops frequently 10 hinder the I'm
crease OF these pests. There are vari
Gus insect injurious 20 grain whlcl
would increase 20 an alarming extern
10 the land were devoted exclusively
20 grain crops year after year. Blu
when crop OF beans or turnips FOL
low grain crop. the whole tribe o
grain insects may perish or disappear
from the field. The ciump-f0ot. or "a.
f is sometimes commonly known. th
"big root" ia cabbage and cOllards. in
f like manner prevent their continue
cultivation on the same land. Farmer
ana market gardeners i'm vicinite
f near cities would be glad 90 grow cab
bage year after year upon the sam
land. but they cannot because OF thi
disease.
One form OF rotation az crops com
monty practiced in this State. and 81
most Of the Southern States, IS Tn
growing with reference 10 thci
manurial value. Red clover or COW
peas sown in spring. or rye sown il
fan and plowed under when it ha
made a fair growth. are the most CON
mon methods OF green mauuring. tn
effects are often very noticeable. r
this method we largely increase IN
vegetable matter in the soil. and tai
much improves the physical condido
Of the soii.-L. N. Odcn. a. and NJ
College. West Raleigh. y. c.