20 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. Waterman presented the following 



On Rotation of Crops. 



Among tlie many practical questions presenting themselves to 

 the farmer for solution, there is probably not one ordinarily passed 

 over more lightly, and, at the same time, of more importance, than 

 the question of what crops he shall plant and sow from time to 

 time. Very often it is settled by present convenience, chance, 

 caprice, or perhaps more often by the way the farmer has become 

 accustomed to do, without any fixed rule. 



Experience has proved what might be very readily supposed, 

 that the ordinary farm crops require to be changed round, or not 

 cultivated for any great length of time, the same crop upon the 

 same place. 



To this there may be some few exceptions. Onions have been 

 grown for a century upon the same spot, without diminution of 

 the crop or deterioration of the soil. Carrots will admit of being 

 grown quite a number of years successively upon the same spot. 

 Buckwheat will sometimes produce better the second year than 

 the first ; oats and potatoes, in some cases, nearly as well. Grass 

 may be raised for an indefinite length of time by top-dressing, and 

 occasionally turning over the sod, manuring, harrowing, rolling 

 and seeding down. 



Now the demand which exists for a variety of products for home 

 consumtion, and the uncertainty which attends all crops, seem to 

 make it imperative to raise a variety of crops. Such being the 

 case, we may, first, in deciding how the difierent crops shall be 

 grown, inquire whether or not the same crop can profitably be 

 raised upon the same ground for successive years — if so, it might 

 be very much more convenient. The crops which involve in the 

 process of cultivation and storing, a good deal of carting, might 

 be grown convenient to the farm Buildings. The corn, potatoes, 

 or other hoed crops, could be raised on soil made easy by continued 

 cultivation. The labor of turning over tough swards might all be 

 saved. This might bo, if the farmer could always return to his 

 farm all that every crop takes out of it — which he cannot do, be- 

 cause, aside from the fact that were he obliged to do so, no farm- 

 ing (here in Maine,) could be made to pay, he cannot command 

 all the elements of which his soil is deprived by the growing crops. 

 Those elements, which are at his command, are not in the different 

 forms which would be necessary in order for him to apply to each 



