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REAPING IN RUSSIA 



been grown which kills the weeds, such as beetroots or turnips in the north, and tobacco 

 in the south. 



Different plants have different needs; one requires an abundance of nitrogen, whilst another 

 takes more potash or more phosphoric acid out of the soil. Hence it may be easily under- 

 stood that if the same variety were grown on one field for several successive years, it would 

 soon have exhausted the element which it particularly requires. Therefore different varieties, 

 which do not require the same elements in the soil, are grown one after the other. This is called 

 rotation of crops. Take as an illustration the Norfolk or four-course rotation : clover or grass 

 is grown the first year, wheat or oats the next, turnips, mangolds, or potatoes the third, and 

 barley the fourth. Sometimes the farmer allows the field to lie waste for a year, without sowing 

 or planting anything, in order to rest the soil. Such fields are called fallow-land. Many 

 other rotations are practised, depending on the character of the soil, climate, amount of stock 

 kept, and special requirements. The soil must be in the proper condition, neither too hard 

 nor too soft. The farmer must try to obtain the golden mean : he must be well acquainted 

 with the properties of the soil, with the climate, and with the capacities of his tools. Hence 

 methods of cultivation differ, according to soil, climatic conditions, etc. The tilling of the 

 soil comprises all operations of which the purpose is either to aerate it, thoroughly to mix its 

 different elements, or to remedy its physical defects. The soil is turned over with the spade, 

 the hoe, or the plough ; it is harrowed to break up the clods, and to put it in better tilth, and 

 rolled, if necessary, to give it greater firmness. The importance of these operations varies 

 with the nature of the soil, and with the variety of the wheat grown. 



The time when the wheat must be sown also varies according to its kind and according 

 to the part of the world where it is grown. Generally speaking, we may say that wheat does 

 not thrive if the temperature is below about 55° F. for three months or so of the growing period. 

 It is impossible to fix a date for the sowing, for that is a question to be determined by expe- 

 rience, and varies greatly according to local conditions. The farmer must be very careful in his 

 choice of seed. It is of no use to have good land, to till it well, and then to sow seed of an 

 indifferent quality. He can only expect a good harvest when the grains are heavy, well- 

 developed, and thoroughly ripe. Wheat to be used for seed should not be reaped before it is 



