The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1908-11-11

To simplify the planning of rota-
tons, field crops are divided into
three general classes according to
their effect on the physical condition
and available plant food of the soil.
These three classes of crops are grain
crops, grass. crops and cultivated
crops.
Under grain crops are placed such
crops as wheat, barley, oats. millet,
etc. These crops grow but one sea-
son, are sown usually in the spring,
and are harvested without intermedi-
ate cultivation. They do not devel-
op heavy root systems, consequently
leave but little crop residue to keep
up the supply of humus in the soil.
During the years when grains are
grown, weeds increase and the pro-
ductivity of the soil decreases.
Grass crops include such crops as
clover Though not a true grass tim
othy, bromus, etc. These crops grow
two or more years from one seeding,
consequently develop quite extensive
root systems. When plowed up, the
roots add materially to the, supply of
vegetable matter in the soil and in
deCaying leave open spaces between
the soil particles which allow the en-
trance OF air. These crops may be
termed soil building crops
The cultivated crops are those
planted so as to allow intertillage
during their growth. In this class are
found corn, potatoes, and root crops
such as mangels and sugar beets.
The cultivation of these crops de-
stroys weeds, loosens the surface of
the soil, conserves moisture by the
formation of surface mulch and al
lows the entrance of air, thus max
ing conditions favorable for the de-
composition of vegetable matter.
1t may be seen that far better
condition of soil is maintained by a
good rotation of crops than by con-
tinuous cropping to corn or grain.
The grass crops maintain the supply
of humus and the cultivated crops re-
tain moisture, destroy weeds and help
to aerate the soil.
Instead of being a complex matter
difficult to understand and impracti-
cal to follow, a systematic rotation
of crops is one of the simplest and
most easily carried out Of any of the
suggested improvements in methods
of farming.
Crop rotation may be defined as a
systematic succession of the three
general classes of farm crops, namely,
grain crops, grass crops and cult
waited crops, in such a way as to pro-
vide large yields of grain, pasturage
and forage needed on the farm at the
least expense of labor and fertility.
Rotation systems must be adapted
to each farm or class of farms and to
the particular condition of each farm.
With knowledge of what is desired
TO accomplish by rotation. namely an
improvement in the condition ofsthe
soil and a corresponding increase in
the net income per acre, it is easily
farm, the climate, the line of farming
desired and the tastes of the farmer,
to plan a systematic rotation for that
farm which will give the desired re-
suits. The essentials of good rota-
ton are that the net yields in money
value per acre be maintained or in
creased, that vegetable matter be kept
in the soil, and that the land be kept
in good physical condition and reason
ably free from weeds. Grass crops
must be grown or barnyard manure
applied, or both, to keep up the sup
ply of vegetable matter. A cultivated
crop occasionally and good tillage are
necessary to kill out the weeds and
help put the soil in good filth. These
things are naturally brought about by
alternating the three classes of crops
that is, one or more grass crops
should appear on each field every four
10 eight years. Corn or other cult
waited crops and manure should appear
one or more years in the same period,
and the remainder of the time grain
may be grown.
? This treatment cannot fail to keep
the soil in much better condition than
can be done by growing any one crop