ROTATION OF CROPS. 



ROTATION OF CROPS. 



cross-plough ins:s through the summer, is also 

 sown with wheat in the fall. The field on which 

 rye is sown, is that from which a crop of wheat 

 had been taken the same year, and which had 

 yielded three crops of wheat, alternating with 

 crops of clover. Corn is planted on the field 

 from which rye had been gathered the year pre- 

 vious, the stubbles of which are ploughed down 

 in the fall. Clover-seed is' sown early in fhj 

 spring on two of the wheat fields, those which 

 have been most recently manured. By this me- 

 thod, each field yields three crops of wheat, two 

 of clover, one of rye, and one of corn, every eight 

 years. Each field, in the mean time, has lain an 

 open fallow, and received a heavy dressing of 



manure, perhaps at an average of 15 four-horse 

 loads per acre. His crop of wheat is seldom 

 less than 1500 bushels, but often much more. 

 His average rye-crop is about 450 bushels, and 

 his corn crop, annually, about 500 bushels 

 all which grain, at the present low prices, would 

 amount to more than $2000 annually, and at 

 former prices to double that amount; and his 

 farm is withal very highly improved. 



This system corresponds very nearly with 

 that of which a tabular statement is presented 

 in the same volume, by Mr. W. P. Kmtzer, of 

 Pequea, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, as 

 successfully practised by himself. It is as 

 follows : 



In the county of Montgomery, where agri- 

 culture is in a very flourishing state, the crops 

 consisting of the ordinary grains and hay- 

 grasses, a five-shift rotation, from the division 

 of the farm into five fields, is very much pursued. 

 Commencing with Indian corn, the sod, which 

 has been top-dressed with lime the previous 

 season, is ploughed in the fall or spring. The 

 corn is followed by oats, which being harvested, 

 the stubble is turned under, manure spread upon 

 the ground and wheat sown, with timothy-seed 

 in the fall and red clover in the spring. The 

 wheat has thus the important advantage of 

 immediately succeeding two cleansing crops, and 

 the ground, after harvesting the wheat, is left 

 in fine condition for the hay grasses. The first 

 year after the wheat is harvested, the grass is 

 mown, the second year pastured, after which 

 the sod is again turned under for corn, and the 

 rotation recommences. 



What is known in Pennsylvania as the Old 

 York and Lancaster system, corresponds with 

 the one last described, so far as the succession 

 of grain crops and sowing of the grass-seeds 

 are concerned, but differs in allowing the hay- 

 grasses to occupy the field five years. The 

 first two years are most productive in red 

 clover, which, being a biennial and the root 

 dying out, leaves the ground in possession of 

 the timothy and other perennial grasses. 



The following interesting view of the former 

 and present Virginia modes of conducting ro- 

 tations, and the improvements introduced and 

 suggested, is from the able editor of the Par- 

 tners' Register (vol. vii.). 



The first and most humble attempt at a 

 rotation in this country, and the one which 

 fo r merly was general on the greater part of 

 most farms, and is even now in extensive use, 

 is the two-shift ; which, however, short as it is, 

 had various grades of bad quality. This usu- 

 ally followed the continual cultivation of the 

 iand, in its newer condition, in tobacco, while 

 rich enough f< r the crop, and afterwards in 

 corn, every year. 



The two-shift was most usually this : 

 9t>2 



1st year, corn 



("wheat or oats, if on land too light or 



- , \ too poor for wheat 



M after harvest, grazed closely until next 

 \_ spring, when ploughed for corn again. 



When too poor to bear any small grain crops, 

 that part of the course was omitted on such 

 poorer spots of the field, and afterwards on all; 

 thus changing the rotation to 



1st year, corn 



2d " natural cover of weeds, grazed. 



When not grazed the second year, as was 

 sometimes the case, for want of separate fenc- 

 ing, or some other cause, this rotation made a 

 nearer approach to alternate and improving 

 husbandry. It was then 



1st year, corn 



2d " weeds not grazed, and which (if 

 not burnt off, as was done most usually) form- 

 ed a very poor manuring crop. 



The celebrated Eastern Shore rotation is of 

 two shifts or fields, but of three crops in the 

 two years. This is 



1st year, corn 



2 , C first crop, oats 



' secondary crop, Magothy bay bean 

 a spontaneous and close cover immediately 

 succeeding the oats, and which remains mostly 

 or entirely untouched by the grazing stock, 

 and is ploughed under for the next crop of 

 corn. The interposition, by nature, and not 

 by the design or industry of the cultiva- 

 tors, of this leguminous and manuring crop, 

 is a most valuable feature in a rotation 

 which otherwise would be altogether exhaust- 

 ing and destructive. The moisture of the air, 

 no less than the sandiness of the soil, and the 

 cleanness from other plants, give vigour to this 

 bean, and make one-third of the whole course 

 meliorating, to two-thirds of exhausting crops. 

 The same moisture also nourishes the oats, 

 and prevents that crop exhausting so much, as 

 in dryer regions and also by its greater bulk 

 of straw, furnishing more materials for ma- 

 nure. These circumstances render this rota- 

 tion, severe and barbarous as it is, less exhaust- 



