CHAPTER VII. 



ROTATIONS OF 

 CULTIVATION, MANURING, AND CROPPING. 



Reasons for Rotations Difficulties to the Gardener of a perfect 

 Rotation Why under certain, conditions a strict Rotation is not 

 essential Rotation of Cultivation, Manuring and Liming Testing 

 for Lime Rotation of Crops. 



ONE of the first principles of agriculture is that one crop 

 shall not be allowed to follow another of the same kind 

 on the same soil. The basis of this principle is that although 

 all cultivated plants extract the same foods from the soil there 

 is a considerable variation in the quantities they use of any 

 given kind one variety using nitrogen in abundance, another 

 phosphates, and a third potash, so that to avoid an undue 

 depletion of any one food element, and to maintain a fairly 

 correct balance, it is necessary to change the crops about, 

 or, in other words, to have a rotation. 



Another important reason for a rotation is that a change of 

 crop assists to keep in check the insect and fungoid pests with 

 which most cultivated plants are afflicted. 



Not only does a rotation assist to preserve a proper balance 

 between the plant foods in the soil, and to keep in check the 

 numerous pests, but as different crops need widely varying 

 methods of cultivation, manuring, and tillage, by moving 

 them about so as to gradually apply the different operations 

 to the whole area the soil is kept in a sweet and wholesome 

 condition, it is more easily kept free of weeds, and the cultiva- 

 tor is enabled to maintain its texture and fertility on a much 

 smaller outlay for manure and labour. 



But a perfect rotation is practically impossible to the gar- 

 dener who is obliged to produce a large variety of crops in 

 constant succession from a small area. Not only has he to 

 intercrop in order to make the most of the space at his 

 command and intercropping practically means that distinct 



