The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-01-05
INTEREST
TO FARMERS
Some Valuable Hints and In
formation Taken From
Farm Papers
The Benefit OF a Rotation.

1
week on this subject could induce
those of our readers who have not
done so, or at least the majority of
them. to adopt a rational rotation,
we should feel that it was one of the
best years work we have ever done.
As a matter of fact, we do not be-
lieve that it is possible, on any land
not subject to fertilization, from
or otherwise, to maintain
without a rotation.
1t is astonishing the number of
farmers who are growing continuous
crops. In some sections of Illinois,
it is corn; in some parts Of Kansas it
is winter wheat; in the northwest it
is spring wheat, or possibly wheat,
oats and barley. In the winter
wheat sections it may be wheat, oats
and corn. They call this rotation.
1t is not a rotation that will MAIN
tain soil fertilit". 1t is a rotation
just a little better than the same
continuous crop. though a rotation
that will put off the evil day, but
only put it off, for it viii surely
come.
A rotation adapted TO most of our
territory is corn or potatoes, winter
wheat or some kind of spring grain
seeded down to clover, one year for
meadow and the year following for
pasture, then MANFRED md put in
r In some localities it may be
possible to substitute potatoes for
corn, especially in the winter wheat
sections; in others, alfalfa for clover
or be kept in alfalfa for three or
four years and then plowed under.
Any of these rotations will bring the
answer.
TO impress upon our readers the
value of rotation, let us call to their
attention experiments carried on at
the OHIO station for fifteen years, as
follows: Continuous winter wheat
growing without fertilizer or man.
ure; rotation wheat growing, the ro-
tatlon being corn, oats wheat. clover
and timothy, without manure; ON
tlnuous crops with manure; continu-
Gus crops with commercial fertilizer
and rotation with commercial fertil-
izer. The results should determine
the ,alue of rotation whether used
with barnyard manure or CONNER
cial fertilizers. In other words, 1t
should bring out clearly the value of
rotation under any treatment.
Now what are the results every
five years during tins period?
Where wheat was grown continually
without any treatment, the first five
years the crop averaged 10.l bushels
the second S.4, the third 6.2. In
other works, the decrease was 80 per
cent. Where rotation was followed,
with no treatment, the crop the first
five-year period was 9.3 bushels, the
second S.5 and the third 1877.
Where there was continuous wheat
growing with manure, the average
Weld the first five years was 1873
bushels, the second 1875, and the
third IT'S. Where rotation was
followed with the same manuring
the average Weld of wheat the first
five years was i2.7 bushels, the
| second ~, and the third 80 bushels.
Where there was continuous
wheat growing with commercial
fertilizers the first fve-year period
the average yield was 1913 bushels.
the second 21.9 and the third II. IA.
Where rotation was followed with
same fertilizing the first fve-year
period the yield was 20.5 bushels,
the second 27.5 and the third 49,.
bushels.
In every case the rotation increas.
ed the yield. the other treatmen,
being the same. This is in entire
harmony with experiments made a,
other stations and with universe.
farm experience. The profit anG
value of rotation in itself is one OF
the few things in agriculture thai
are definitely settled.
OF course the rotation may vary
but there is a definite. fixed prin
ciple under any rotation. The rota
ton. to successful. must add humu'
material to the soil; it must ado
nitrogen. Merely changing from
one grain crop to another will no
produce satisfactory results. for TIN
reason that the stubble and root