The Rotation of Farm Crops 



1617 



sales of farm products, are to be reckoned with in deciding what may be 

 a suitable rotation of crops for each farm. 



2. Every rotation of crops should be profitable. Not all the courses in 

 a rotation need necessarily return net profits. One course in a rotation 

 may be grown at a loss when considered by itself, and yet contribute to 

 the success of the other courses. If possible, every course in a crop rota- 

 tion should pay its own way or make a profit without lessening the 

 chances for success with succeeding courses; but the success of a rotation 

 should be measured by the amount of net profit derived from it and by its 

 effects on the maintenance of soil fertility. 



Fig. 254. — The oat crop that followed the poor crop of corn (Fig. 253) was so 

 heavy that it lodged badty and was cut for hay. The yietd was four tons of hay 

 per acre. The rotation of crops is necessary on this field 



3. The use of barnyard maniire and the application of commercial 

 fertilizers to farm crops in rotations should be such as to give the largest 

 net results. The crops to which it is most profitable to apply manures 

 or fertilizers should be determined by fair trials and the practice of 

 manvuing or fertilizing should be based on this knowledge, rather than 

 on mere convenience. 



SOME EXAMPLES OF CROP ROTATION 



It would not be consistent, in a short lesson such as this, to try to 

 enumerate all the well-known or possible rotations of crops for this State. 

 A few examples of crop rotations of various lengths and suitable to various 

 conditions will serve to show how rotations arc carried out in good practice. 

 The merits and faults of each will be pointed out. 



