1152 EARLE V. HARDENBURG 



The importance of the crop on Long Island is shown by the fact that no 

 regular system of crop rotation is practiced, potatoes being grown for 

 several successive years on the same land. In order to maintain the 

 humus content, cover crops of rye are turned under each spring. The 

 commonest practice is two to four years of potatoes, the land being cover- 

 cropped to rye over winter. Along the north shore, where a rotation 

 is sometimes used, wheat seeded to clover and timothy follows potatoes, 

 the hay being grown from one to two years before the sod is plowed for 

 corn, cabbage, and cauliflower. Potatoes then follow these cultivated 



FlG. 130. HARVESTING IRISH COBBLERS IN NASSAU COUNTY IN JULY 

 The large immature vines should be noted 



crops. Wheat and hay are the principal rotation crops on the southern 

 shore. 



Much double-cropping is practiced in Nassau County, the early potatoes 

 being harvested in July and the second crop in late August and early Sep 1 

 tember. Land producing a first crop of potatoes is commonly planted to 

 turnips, beets, carrots, or other root crops, or is set to cabbage for the fall 

 market. Rye is used here also as a cover crop. A field in which Cobblers 

 were harvested one day and turnips were planted the next day, is shown 

 in figure 130. 



