ROTATION OF CROPS. 261 



may be well to examine them. For one, I believe a careful 

 investigation of tlie facts of the case would clearly sustain them. 

 In regard to the first, for instance — a want of method. If we go 

 through the town or county and inquire of the farmers whether 

 they have adopted a regular system of rotation ; one that they 

 are confident is best adapted to the soil ; or, that varies, so as 

 to accommodate itself to the different kinds of soil the farm 

 may contain — how many of them would answer in the affirma- 

 tive ? Judging from personal observation, and from other 

 sources, I venture to say, not one-fourth part. Many of us are 

 altogether too much influenced by the fluctuations in the price 

 of any article we are accustomed to raise. If, this year, it 

 brings a good price — farewell to all our resolutions to be more 

 methodical, if we have ever formed them. Next year money 

 must be made, and every spare rod of ground that will produce 

 it, is devoted to the profitable crop. 



So common is this feeling, that it is matter of every-day 

 observation, that any unusual rise in the price of a staple pro- 

 duct, is almost sure to be followed in the course of a year or 

 two by as unnatural a depression ; and it affords a most striking 

 proof of our want of method. 



Again, if some men are fortunate enough to raise a crop, 

 which has more than answered their expectations ; instead of 

 endeavoring to ascertain the causes that produced so favorable 

 a result, in order that it may be applied to other fields, they 

 will require the same land to produce the like again, and so, 

 from year to year, until the resources of the soil are exhausted. 



This is one kind of method, it is true. It is methodical se- 

 verity, and methodical ruin, but it is no economical method. 

 The very stones, if they had a voice, would cry out for a more 

 generous treatment than this. 



I should be willing to admit, that the two classes of farmers 

 of whom I have spoken, are intelligent and thoughtful enough to 

 have some general plan ; although they are often swayed by 

 circumstances to depart from it. There is another class, how- 

 ever, quite as large, probably, as either of the others, who have 

 no plan whatever; or change their plans as soon almost as they 

 make them ; who break up, or seed down, plant or sow, as the 

 humor strikes them. If their fields are a faithful transcript of 



