190 



S 



MANUAL AND 



ROTATION OP CROPS, POTATOES AND CORN. 



Rotation of croi)?, is certainly among the most 

 valiial)li^ of the modern improvements in agricnl- 

 tin-e. The scientific researclies of many larmers 

 have enableil them to discover some of the prin- 

 ciples of vegetation, formerly i)nt little understood. 

 And it is believed that they will f,'ei!erally soon be 

 fully convinced by experiment (jf t!ie ereat benefits 

 to be derived from rotation of crwps. The ilifTerent 

 kinds of vegetables refpiire nutriment peculiar to 

 each cla^s, and by planting the same kind on the 

 same soil for a number ol years in succession, the 

 vegetables or {)lants degenerate for the want of 

 their peculiar a'dment; or as the common expres- 

 sion is, the soil becomes exhausted. It is therelore 

 conceded to be an injudicious jiractice to cultivate 

 the same cro|), ui)on the same soil, for even two 

 years in succession. 



The same remark is af)i)licable in horticulture; 

 altliough a plentiful siipi>ly of manure annually, 

 may utl'ird some remedy for a previously exhausted 

 soil. 



By a judicious successioB of cro[)s, and the fre- 

 quent use of tiiat most important instrument to 

 farmers, the plougii, the fertility of the soil may be 

 maintained. So many valuable essays have of late 

 been publislied u[)on"tliis S(d)ject, that we will not 

 extend onrremaiks; but beg leave to refer to tliat 

 of J. Hamilton Cou|)er, republished in the Northern 

 Farmer of i)ih March 1833, as containing miicb 

 valuable informaiion, and a> being wortliy of *" 

 attentive perusal. Connected with this subject is 

 tlie a(laj)tation of the different soils to the various 

 kinds of plants. Many skilful farmers acquire 

 some praciical knowledge of this subji-ct, without 

 underslanding its true principles. Indeed, these 

 princii)les caimot lie well understood without the 

 aid of the scien<;e of Chemistry. Chemical Science 

 is indispei)sal)le to the Physician; but it falls not 

 exclusively within liis province. Tiie practical 

 farmer will find it of vast service in his pursuit. 

 Its study ought therefore to be encouraged. 



By ascertaining the food which difierent kinds of 

 vegetables require, and the nutriiious qualities of 

 the various soils, the agricidturist is enal)led to de- 

 cide how he can, gen(!rally, ])ro(luce the largest 

 croyis, with the least laboi'and exi)ense. 



He cannot have sufficient foresight to guard 

 against unprojjitious seasons; but acting upon en- 

 lightened principles and correct theories, his [)roj- 

 pocts of a good harvest will seldom be cut off. 

 Our present o!)ject is to submit a lew remarks u|'on 

 two of our most essc;niial agricidiurai products, 

 potatoes and corn. 



In this section we raise no vegetable of greater 

 profit or more general use th.".n the potato. — And 

 its annual consumption seeetns to be yet on tiie in- 

 crease. We learn Irom aged [lersons, that some 

 fifty or sixty years ago, ten or fifteen bushels of po- 

 tatoes were considered as a large crop for each 

 farmer; and at that period, it was as uncommon 

 for a slaughtered swine to weigli 250 lbs. as it now 

 is, to weigh seven or eight hundred — Now, a 

 thousand bushels or even fifteen hundred, is not an 

 nni'onunon crop, ui)on a I'artn of one buudreii and 

 fifty or two hundred acres. 



It has been believed by many, th.-tt'': high, sandy 

 or gravelly soils, are best adapted to the growth of 

 |)otatoes. But the modern theory, proved by ex- 

 |)eriment, is, tiiat a low, cold bottom, or clay-p;ui is 

 jireferable. I have for several years cultivated this 

 vegetable upon a low, level, clay-i)an, taking care to 

 have |)roper drains in case of heavy rains; and 

 find that it not only yields largely, but that the 

 quidity or flavor of the potato is su))erior to that of 

 those produced on high, sandy soils, A cold bot- 

 tom is more congenial to them. And it is generally 

 known, that in a cold, wet season, they flourish 

 better, than in a very warm and dry one. But 

 when |)!anted in low lands, the drains should al- 

 ways be kept o|)en, to prevent overflowing. 



It is said that in some jjars of Ireland, famous 

 for excellent jiotatoes, the ])otatoes are planted in 

 low, and boggy lands, in beds, between v/hich a 

 diich or drain is cut ; anil that the mud or most nu- 

 tritious ])oriion of tiie soil which gradually collects 

 in these ditches, is taken up to cover the jiotatoes. 

 The practice, which many farmers are adopting, of 

 laying out their low ami marshy lands into beds 

 rising in the centr,', of four or five rods in width, 

 with intervening drains, running towards a com- 

 mon outlet, will ])rove highly b neficial ; and when 

 tliere shall be a great im;rease of pcjpuli.tion, and 

 the value of our lands shall be greatly eidianced, 

 this practice will be adopted by all good farmers. 

 It will then be admitted by all, that our vul!ey.«, and 

 ?wamps contain the most fertile soil. In these, 

 have been collecting for ages, deco;npose(l vegeta- 

 ble matter, which constitutes the deep black soil. 

 This kind of soil conveyed on to high sandy bar- 

 ren land,wiili a mixture ol' animal manure, will 

 convert the lalter into fruitful fields. And the fer- 

 tility of the low land id increased by spreadi'ig u[)on 

 its surface, loo.se sand or gravel from the hills. 



The old practice of making the potato hill in an 

 oval form or the shajiC of a sugar loaij is ver) cen- 

 surable. The same remark is applicable to the 

 corn hill. Because, hills so formed, do not absorb 

 so much moisture, when the rain descends, as hills 

 flat at tlie top. 



It is believed that a former practice of plimling 

 sinall potatoes, is now universally conclemned. 

 But many are yet of opinion, that it is as judicious 

 to plant cut potatoes, or slips, or the eyes, as whole 

 ])otatoes. This practice is contr.Mry to the course 

 of nature, Nat ue is always right, in all her oper- 

 ations. The Farmer shoidd take nature for his 

 great an 1 unerring guide. — Hundreds of various 

 theories have been published upon this impoitaiit 

 point. The result of our observations and reflec- 

 tions, respecting it, is, that it is always best to plant 

 the best potatoes whole, except those containing too 

 many eyes, of unusually largesi::e. Tiie latter may 

 be divided. I raised a potato, perlectly sound, of 

 an oval form, weighing two and a half })oiiuds. 

 This I cut into twelve pieces, which from twelve 

 hills, yielded two bushels. If slips are planted, the 

 jdants or sprouts come up more slender and feeble. 

 In favorable seasons, they may often look very well, 

 but not so well as those from the whole potato. 

 Cai e should !)e taken to prevent the growth of too 

 many sprouts or stalks. Four or five in a common 



