62 PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



climate. In case legumes do not grow readily, the soil should 

 be put into a condition favorable for their growth. Usually 

 the addition of lime will be sufficient but in some instances 

 better drainage may also be required. The choice of other 

 crops in the rotation, aside from consideration of soil and 

 climate, depends upon the kind desired. That is, any kind 

 of a crop may be used provided it will yield profitably under 

 the system of farming in operation. In the example given, 

 where wheat, clover, and corn form the rotation, corn is 

 the chief crop and the other crops serve to aid in its production. 

 The wheat is generally used to secure a stand of clover rather 

 than for the profit in itself and is expected to pay the expense 

 of putting in the clover. 



After the kind of rotation has been determined, the farm 

 should be divided into as many equal parts or fields as there 

 are kinds of crops in the rotation. In the example above, 

 there would be three or a multiple of three. The shape and 

 arrangement of the fields depend upon the lay of the land 

 and upon the previous arrangement. In order to facilitate 

 plowing and cultivating, and the division of fields for feeding 

 purposes, as in " hogging corn," long, rather narrow fields 

 are to be preferred. In many cases an entirely new arrange- 

 ment of the fields may be worth while, not only to make 

 better provision for a system of crop rotation, but also to save 

 fencing and labor. 



How to manage crops so as to control losses due to weeds, 

 insects, and plant diseases. The losses due to these agencies 

 are very great. No means has been found that will entirely 

 prevent such losses but they may, to a certain extent, be 

 controlled by proper crop rotation. The application of this 

 method of control and of other means is considered in detail 

 in later chapters. 



