Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1912-02-02
EXTENSION DIVISION NOTES

l E6IENSlON DlY1S1ON NOtEo.
The rotation Of crops In one Of tho
simplest and most pI PRACTICAL Ways ~
which the incOme OF the farm may he
increased without greatly adding 70
the cost Of operation. ss=. I. DIV. b
The rotation IF crops is the altefna-
tion OF the three general classes Of
farm crops; namely, graip crops, grass
crop from each of the three classes
viii appear on each neld at least once
during zach c. Gle of the rotation.
Unaer grain crops, such crops as
wheat. barley, flax and millet may be
classed IN their relation to the soil.
Millet, though grown for hay. has
practically tho same effect on the soil
90 ersin crop. These cr"ps deplete
the soil 1T vegetable matter, allow
wee1s to grow. and nave tendency g
deplete the productive power of the
land.
Under grass CROP may be included
timothy, br0mus and the cl0vera.
Though the clovers are not true
graves, they have heavy root system,
and aod vegetable matter to the soil.
Toe clovers also add nitrogen to the
soil; but their chief value in rota.
ton seems to be due to the fact that
their heavy root 8. stems I'LL the s0il
with veg table matter, thus making it
more hospitable to plant. -
. inner coltIvatei crops may be-
rlaced corn, p"tatoes and root crops.
Owing to their cultivation during
Rroe tn, these crops have cleaning
effect On the soil. The. are, however,
exhaustive of sill fertility, because
tho constant cultivation encourages the
libe, alton OF large quantities of plant
food. These crops leave the soil in good
condition tor succeed,nR..grain crops.
The rotation of crops keeps the soil
supplied with vegetable matter from
the roots vt the grass crops grown, and
from the manure usually applied.
When this vegetable matter rots or
0ecompOses, plant food is liher8ted.
v. getable matter keeps the soil oren
so that air can penetrate It likewise
holds chemical and physical influence
on the soil.
The rotation of crops has a marked
tenc ency to eradicate weeds. Grass
crops are cut early, tefore weeds can
mature seed. The cultivated crops, it
properly handled. DO not allow weeds
to seed In this way, GOOD system
of rotation gradually rlds the land OF
all of the ordinary wet d..
The rotation of crops aids &reatly in
handling farm labor by distributing
labor throughout the season, ara mak-
ing 1t possible to constantly employ
help. eltner in growing the crops or In
ing for the live stock.
The rotation of crops encourages the
keeping Ut live stock, because it in
wolves The production of grass and pas
ture crops, and usually corn, which
are most economically marketed. as a
rule. by feealng to live stock. In this
way a large proportion of the crops
produced are fed on the farm, and the
fertility retained.
The rotation of crops lessons the
danger from injury to crops grown, by
disease and insects. Good examples to
illustrate this point are cutworms and
fax wilt. II seed clean from the wilt
parasite 10 used, fax wilt will not
trouble If tax appears but once in q
five to eight-year rotation. Cntworms
and army worms are not likely to
trouble if grass seed. 10 left down no
more than two years, which 10 usually
the practice ii rotstion is followed.
"A. d. Wilson, Supt.