110 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



without an interval of at least two or three years; and although in some special cases they 

 may be grown successfully on the same soil for several consecutive seasons, this would be an 

 exception to the general rule; the general and most successful method being to have an inter 

 val of two or three years between the crops and this interval to be occupied by plants entirely 

 different from them. 



Dr. Daubeny has experimented by cultivating crops on the same and different plots in 

 successive years, and given the average taken from five years as follows : 



Potatoes, . . .in the same plot, . . . .72.9 Ibs. tubers. 



in different plots, . . . .92.8 &quot; 



Flax, . . . same, ..... 15.0 &quot; 



different, . . . . 19.9 &quot; 



Beans, . . . same, ...... 32.8 &quot; 



different, . . . . .34.8 &quot; 



Barley, . . . same, ...... 30.0 &quot; 



different, . . . . 46.5 &quot; 



Turnips, . . . same, ..... 104.0 &quot; 



different, . . . . .173.0 &quot; 



Oats, . . . same, ...... 28.0 &quot; 



different, . . . . 32.4 &quot; 



This shows an advantage in change, which varies from one to seventy-five per cent. 



A Massachusetts nurseryman, eminently successful in his business, says: &quot;I have wit 

 nessed the most extraordinary effects follow the carrying out of the principle of rotation of 

 crops. To illustrate the point, I will say, that in the preparation of the ground for apple- 

 trees, for instance, we are obliged to prepare it very nicely, in order to be successful; as 

 nicely as for a vineyard, or for garden vegetables. &quot;We plow deep, manure thoroughly, and 

 then, in setting out the small plants, the seedling apples, we calculate that the ground is in a 

 fit condition to carry those trees almost to their maturity. Now you will see that the grow 

 ing of a crop of apple-trees successfully, which requires three or four, and sometimes five 

 years, exhausts the soil of all its ingredients which the apple-tree calls for, or perhaps any 

 deciduous tree calls for. A nurseryman who understands his business knows that it would 

 be folly for him, after he has taken off that first crop, to attempt to put a second crop upon 

 that land, even if he manured equally as well as he did the first time, because his crop has 

 exhausted the soil of certain things which are peculiarly necessary; and which can only bo 

 found in newer soil. My practice has been this : after my apple-trees have been removed, 1 

 find the land admirably adapted to the growth of evergreen trees, such as spruce, arbor vitae, 

 hemlock, etc. &quot;Without reman uring that land, without any rep reparation, almost, except it 

 be plowing, I can set out evergreens, and get an admirable crop, because the elements which 

 the evergreens call for still exist in that soil; because the elements which the evergreens call 

 for are different from those which the apple trees call for. I grow them three years, and 

 then they pass away. &quot;What is the condition of the soil then? It is exhausted for the ever 

 green, it is exhausted for the deciduous tree, and you might say that the soil was entirely 

 exhausted. But such is not always the case. I may plow that land thoroughly and lay it 

 down to grass, without even putting any manure upon it, and raise a splendid crop of grass. 



We believe it is because the grass calls for different elements in the soil from either oi 

 the varieties of trees specified, and the farmer will find the same principle true respecting his 

 crops.&quot; For this reason orchards planted upon old orchard sites seldom do well. The super 

 intendent of gardens and grounds for the department at Washington states that the same 

 results have been found in the culture of the grape. For a number of years past, it has 

 been customary for the department to propagate several thousands of plants, embracing many 

 varieties of native grapes. These are mostly grown from single eye cuttings in sand beds 

 under glass, and placed singly in pots when rooted. About the end of May they are turned 



