The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-02-23

SoON
the results of a rotation experiment.
conducted at the Minnesota excerpt
ment station are cited. On a certain
tract of land sown continuously to
wheat for ten years. the yield dur
ing the first period of i've years was
20.2O0 bushels; during the last five
years, 1922 bushels. When corn alone
was grown under similar conditions.
the yield was 20.S bushels for the first
FIVE years. and I'LL bushels for the
last five years. In a five-year rotation
system the yield of corn was ASP
bushels per acre, or more than twice
the total yield on the ground where
it was grown continuously. The cost
of cultivation, however, was the same
in each year. This illustration shows
two things Of vast economic import
ance; first, how quickly the soil may
be depleted of its native fertility; and
second, how easily its yield may b
increased or preserved through an in
definite period under proper cultiva-
ton. It also shows that it ma be re
claimed where rational methods Of
practice are pursued and need nos
wear out in one life time nor in ten.
Through the rotation of crops ana
the use of fertilizers, or soil TONES.
the reclaiming Of the greater part OF
our land can be accomplished with
increasing profit to the farmer from
year to year. 1t is no longer a dream
Of the idealist to say that billions OF
dollars might be added to the wealth
OF the nation each yea through these
two agencies. To illustrate the point,
a young farmer in the vicinity Of Attn
ems, Ga. planted twenty-five acres in
rust proof oats. The yieid was forty
bushels per acre, which at a mimi
mum price of rs cents per bushel,
would amount to $50. The cost Of
fertilizers, c~ultiVating, planting and
harvesting was $40. leaving a profit
of $40 per acre. This same and was
Immediately seeded to peas and cane
alter the oats were cut. and a yield
of one and a half tons of hay obtained
per acre which was worth $50: The
expense of fertilization, cultivation
and harvesting was about $40. leaving
$40 profit. In his instance about $40
Of profit was obtained per acre on and
that has been improved through crop
rotation and the prevention of erosion
within the past few years. 1t is
worthy of note that the gentleman ac-
compliShing this result is a college
trained man who soon realized the es-
SentialS necessary for the reclainln2
of his soil, and has already
obtained for his energy and the eXer-
cisco his intellect a handsome re-
ward.
Another illustration may not be out
of place. Mr.. George Kelly, OF Clarke
county. Georgia. planted six acres OF
rust proof oats last season, using two
and a half bushels of seed per acre.
and fedtilizing with about 1000
pounds Of high-grade fertilizer per
acre. The yield was approximately
So, leaving him Sz3 profit per acre
This land was then put in peas anC
cane and a yield OF one and three
quarter tons of hay obtained per
acre. The expense Of bailing. pre-
pairing the land and harvesting was
about $8 per acre, leaving a net profit
Of s27 or approximately 500 of
profit per acre. These figures may seem
Xtr4Or6in2 TJ TO some bnt pOJanV
gratifying results are being obtained
here and there throughout the South
by progressive young men who real
ize the necessity of following inn
naturally includes crop rotation ant
the judicious use of commercial fer
tiliZers.
That a large part OF the effort o,
the farmer is being wasted and tina
crop yields are barely holding their
own is apparent from the statistics
furnished by the last ensus report
In Maryland, for instance, 664,92f
acres of land were planted to corn In
1879; the yield was IL, 968.533 bush
els. In 1899, twenty years later, $685.
O1O acres devoted to corn yielded 49,
766,51O III This looks like a
comparatively fair increase in yield on
about the same acreage. but the fact
should not be lost sight Of that tn"
m spent thousands of dollars
for commercial fertilizers with IN
1899.
The yield of corn in 1S49 in Nir-
ginia was reported as 35,254,519 bush
els: in 1859, 3S,318,999 bushels; and
in 1899. 35 years after the close OF
the war. 36,748.410 bushels though
the area devoted to corn in 1893 eX-
ceeded that devoted to this crop in
1879 by about 100000 acres. These
figures do not us to believe
that the fertility of our lands is IN
creasing, even with the large amour
Of commercial fertilizers now utilized
in crop production in the South.
In 1899, 1S6,999 Mississippi farm
ers devoted 3S.2 per cent OF thelr
improved land to the growth OF cot
ton. They raised an average OF 222
nO11ndS nar acre. OR 4lo DOuN0S per