Systematic Rotation of Crops. 35 



of course understand the rotation, or succession, of 

 crops, in order to do the mapping intelligently ; and 

 accordingly we shall proceed to consider this subject 

 next in order. 



Rotation of Crops. 



The right succession of crops for enabling the cul- 

 tivator to obtain paying results, both in the harvests 

 to be gathered first and in condition of the soil for 

 further culture, has always been a subject of much 

 importance to every tiller of the soil; and is also inter- 

 esting from a scientific point of view. 



The difference between the old style of summer 

 fallowing and the present well understood plans of ro- 

 tation is so considerable that the two ways are styled 

 by some the "old" and '"new" agricultures. 



Under the old system, an occasional year of fallowing 

 was relied upon to rest the ground and renew the plant 

 food in the soil, so that in the succeeding year a larger 

 yield could be obtained than if the land had been 

 cropped continuously. 



Fallowing, although of benefit in some respects, is 

 wasteful in two ways. The land of course is yielding no 

 income in the idle year; here there is a loss of interest 

 on capital. And then, too, as I am persuaded, there is 

 always more or less waste and loss of plant food going 

 on from any soil that is left exposed to the sun and 

 rain during the summer months. At least two and often 

 three crops in a year with constant tilth (including, with 

 other benefits to the soil, the suppression of all weeds 

 and wild growih) represent the "new" method. It is 



