PREVENTION BY FARMING METHODS I9 



CROP ROTATION 



One of the best of farming methods is crop rotation, as it 

 serves several purposes. If pursued on scientific principles it is 

 not only a benefit to the land, but is one of the easiest means of 

 preventing attack from insects, fungous and other diseases, and 

 weeds. In a general way it may be said that crops of like kind, 

 that is, belonging to the same botanical groups, and much sub- 

 ject to insect attack, should not be planted in successive years 

 in the same fields. Thus it is inadvisable to plant corn in old 

 wheat fields, and it is equally unwise to grow small grains after 

 corn. Where insects occur like the bollworm, which attacks 

 several plants, injuring tomato fruit, corn ears, bean pods, etc., 

 in similar manner, still greater care is necessary in selecting 

 the land for planting. It follows that it is bad practice to plant 

 corn after tomatoes or tomatoes after corn, or to plant either 

 of these crops in or near cotton fields. 



Here is where a knowledge of botany sufficient to enable the 

 grower to know the botanical families to which his crops, as 

 well as the weeds, belong becomes of value ; since with the ex- 

 ception of insects known as general feeders, most species feed 

 by preference on one or more plants of the same botanical group. 

 Thus an insect destructive to cabbage will attack any cole crop, 

 such as turnip or radish, and weeds such as wild mustard and 

 pepper-grass ; hence care should be used not to plant cabbage in 

 fields in which the other plants have grown. The same rule holds 

 with plants of the cucumber kind. Melons should not follow 

 squashes, nor pumpkins cucumbers. Rotation of crops is prac- 

 tically the only means of dealing with some of the most im- 

 portant insects, among which arc the western corn root-worm. 

 Where diversified farming is practiced, such leguminous plants 

 as crimson clover and cowpea are most useful as alternates, be- 

 cause valuable as soil restorers, and not as a rule subject to 

 serious insect injury. 



