14 



T H E N E W G E N E S E E F A R M E R , 



1^*01,. 



From th* Fartnti*i lifj^isier. 



Application ol'tlie Prinriples oi the Rotation 



of Crops. 



There ie i,cnrccly nny cuiulition of ngricuUurc, in 

 the lci8L licytcc aclvnnceil, or improveJ in oj.urniiun, 

 which 18 njt baotil on some luJe cyrtem of rotulion, 

 or buccCii>ion of crojjs in a ceruiin order, ll has long 

 been known and alinosl UMiversally acted U,)on, that, 

 ail to gruin cr.>i)6 nt least, the eanic kind c.uld not be 

 produ.e I tujccidivcly on the same land, wiihuui ara- 

 uij do.'line of product, frojn some oiher caiioc or caucCi 

 beoidci the mete Icj^cning of the fonility of the land. 

 Fjr wuen land so treaioJ and eo reduced in jiroducl 

 was 1 ui under eomc other crop, the product of tuch 

 other crop was greitly belter, Thercfoic, except in 

 the eirlie=t and nide.t cultivalion ol a new counLiy, no 

 where id thcic to be found cullivctel the Haine grain 

 crop for many years in tiicccit-ion, wiihou; the inier- 

 pobitionof some other crop, of other grain or of grass. 

 Cotton is the only tilled large crop in this country 

 which has not be.. n alternated wjlh other cultivalion, 

 and which is tended fur years togeihcr on the tnmc 

 land. This practice ie lecommcnded by the c'can 

 Condiiiun of the land re piired by ihnl crop, and whicb 

 its rcpcTic I culiure eecures. But it may well be 

 doubted whether the discnccs and cixirmous ^ls^cs of 

 product in thi, crop, arc not to be ascribed to its being 

 continue I eo long on the same land. 



Lut though e.cry farmer uses something of a rota- 

 tion, still the mist U-Uil coUrt-cB of crops are very im- 

 perfect nn 1 highly objectionable ; and there \s scarcely 

 any sche ne of rotation wh ch d <ei not oli'end greatly, 

 in some of its feature.-, ngtunst the correct principles or 

 theiry of rotntion. 



The lact of iha certain and rapid decline of product 

 of any one ciop repented year alter year on ihe land, 

 was universally conceded, and the practice generally 

 nbnnd)ned, by practical cultivators, without their trou- 

 bling lhe-n.scive3 to investigate the onuses.- The:>ret- 

 i:al an J scienliric agricul.urisis have eaienaincddilfer- 

 (5nt views at dilferent tinicr, and each has had its reign. 

 Formerly it wa3 supposed, and generally admitted, 

 that eich plant drew fr.im the soil some food peculiar 

 to itself, ani ihu! rapidly e.'ihaUjted the soil of this its 

 bwa pecu'inr nutriment, while there stiil remained un- 

 c:i.iiu iKid, and in abun.hnce, the t'ood to eupport plants 

 of o:hjr kind'. But tb:iugii this theory pisied cur- 

 rent long, without dispute, bec.iuse it i-erved to ex- 

 plain iheelTcclj produ:;ed, it vvasgtadunlly weakened, 

 and Hn.illy ovcrtbrown, by later and more correct 

 views of th2 nature of the food of plants. It is but 

 wi.hin llie lost few yenrs that a new and opprs.te doc- 

 trme haj been started, which is at lea~t the most in 

 fashion at pre -ent, if not the most generally received. 

 Triis is founded on the d ecoveriesoi Micaire, De Can- 

 dolle, and Towers, of the excretions of plants by their 

 roots; and the inference thence drawn that the rejected 

 excrement is fit ti serve as fjod for other plants, but is 

 usele.s, if not absolutely hurtful to the kind from 

 which it W.13 thrown oil". And hence ids& vould fol- 

 low the necessity for a change of crops. 



Without denying or advocating either of these doc 

 trinjs, I will yet add fo whatever may be the main 

 C1U33 which calls for a fre^iuint change of crops, an- 

 Vizr ciuscy o( at least very considerable operation, 

 an 1 whch has been already named in the iirst of these 

 nunb;;-3. Tnis is, that every plant ie tUbjcct ti be 

 preyed on by its own pe.-uliar tribes of insects, which 

 are continue 1 to bo supplied by their proper food, and 

 favored by the still continuing circumstances of the 

 field, an I therofire arc inerejjej coniinually in nu n- 

 bers, anl in thjir destrurtive ravages, so Ijng as the 

 crop which fed the n, and th3 clrcun^tanees which fa- 

 Tore 1 tb^ n, remain unclnngc 1; and that those in=e;M 

 mu t be dejtroycd or greatly re luco.l in their numbers 

 nn I pnv.^rs of mischief, by a tatal change of the growth 

 nn i of the troatni .>nt and con lition of the field. Per- 

 haps thojc depre Intora may be invisible, from their 

 minute sizci, and ye: si num rrons as to cans; any ex- 

 tent of inju.-y that is found to bo Buirercd by unchanged 

 tillag-^ of any one crop, an I whi'.-h is avoided by con- 

 vertible hn-bindry or a rotation of crops. 



But lu-kily, though the enus-s of such evils may 

 be uncertain, the cITjctsau I tli- remedies are not there- 

 fore unknown. And the ohservotionj of both scientific 

 and practical agricu'turists have served to establish 

 what they have ternie 1 the prin-.iplas of tkc roil- 

 tij>n of crops, whiidi furnish a body oi'ru'ei by wh-ch 

 to ton every parlicn'nr s -hernc, and s'low its a Ivanta- 

 gos an 1 defeats. But though most of these principles 

 and the rules founded on them, are univer-.ally receiv- 

 ed, Btdl p'^rhaps every writer and roasoner upon rota- 

 tations ditTers in some important respect from all others; 

 and my own views, and still mere the rules and appli- 

 eations founded th.Teon, which have been and will be 

 ffflferad in tho3« numbers, have jip aathority, either in 



previous precepts or e.xaiiiples ui pract ce. The adop- 

 tion of the above named and new reason for a rotation 

 of crops, wiiubl alone rciiuire the introduction of new 

 rules in determining a proper order oi sueceesion, and 

 a eone.derable dcporture from the stated rid a prescri- 

 bed by any pi cvious writer on th 8 subject. But lb Ui,h 

 the princ.plie and luhs laid duwii by every niodeni 

 and well inlormcd agriculn.ritt may ha\e difilrcd in 

 some respect from n.l uiherr, and even if all were 

 wrong as I > the main cutisc ol the necctsity of changing 

 crops, still all were right in the main, in their general 

 precepts and rules ol ordinary prcctdiiic. 



But though many scieniihc wiiiLie have laid down 

 the jirinciples ot" proper eucccssioiis of crops, and all 

 modern agricultur ets in writing, or in practice, have 

 advocated particular rotrrtions, still scarcely any two 

 agree fully in their rules; nnd agreement in jiractice 

 seems more the r. suit of old cuBt mi and neighborhood 

 example, than of thinking and reasoning. It le mani- 

 fest that no pnrtiiular course of cro; s can be jirtscribed 

 as the be-t for an extensive agricultuial region, nor for 

 Hclds of dilferent soil on the same farm, nor fir the dif- 

 ferent conditions at dilii-'rcnt times, of even the same 

 field. It is as much quackery to direct the same rota- 

 tion for an extensive region, as it is to prescribe the 

 same medicine for all d-S-asce. When we hear of a 

 particular roiatitm (no matter what) being genorally 

 pu sued throughout a large district, it is pretty good 

 evidence that the rule is pii:8ued from custom, and not 

 by reason. S une of our best farmers have no regular 

 rotation, ih-uigli always aiming to observe the s 'Und 

 principles of the sueceision of crops, by varying the 

 succession, according to the changes of circums'.aiici s. 



But if nether reasming nor precept can point cut 

 always a right or perfect rotation, it is easy enough to 

 learn from both what is wrong and injurious. And 

 we can scarcely find nny regular rotation in this coun- 

 try, which does not oifend against enne adm.tted prin- 

 ciple and rule, and the most common have scarcely one 

 redeeming quality, no matter by what tCjt or principles 

 the practice be tried. 



Tae most impirtantand indaed indispensable requi- 

 site of any good scheme of rotat on, or course oi crops, 

 I tike to be the following; and the observance of them 

 may b'e termed the i/trce priinanj rules for rotations. 

 Ist. That the several crops whica form the cour.-e, arc 

 ammg the most projilalle to the cultivator, in the cir- 

 cum nances in which he is placed, of climate, S)il, and 

 naarket. 2nd. That the whole course of crops, taken 

 through, \ii profitable to tlic land — serving to increase 

 its iirodUctiicni'SS, if poor — and at least retaining its 

 produjtivnncBS, if already rich. 3rd. That each crop 

 in the rotation serves to prepare for and aid the culti- 

 valion and produjtion of the next, which is to follow 

 it, instead of obstructing either or both. 



The first two of these requ sites, cither expressly or 

 by implication, may be considered as embraced in ev- 

 ery theoretical scheme of rotation, and oinied (however 

 ineffectually) to be preserved in every judicioui farm- 

 er's practice. The third is alinoEt d'sregarded by all, 

 and ie certainly not by any placed in the important po- 

 sition, or viewed in the light which I think it deserves. 



If all these three requisites be secured, any rotation 

 will bo giod; if any be neglected, or be but imperfect- 

 ly secured, the rotation will certainly be a bad one. — 

 Tile best devisjd rotation for tha Jniprovement oTlhe 

 land and its [iroducts, and porfec.lng tiie tillage, wjuld 

 be inadm S3 ble, if any of the crops were of such kind 

 as not to be either said, conjuni.-d, or otberwisj prolit- 

 ab'y used, by the farmer. Neither wouM the greatest 

 annual silos just fy another rotation, if it worked to 

 impoverish the farm. And even if the Amrf of crops 

 were to be the most profitable, and the improvement 

 of fertility regularly advancing, what will it profit the 

 proprietor, if the rotat'on opiratea to produce weeds 

 and depredatng ina.-cts in such numbers as greatly to 

 increase his laliors, nn I a'S) to diminish their products? 



Scientiiic agriculturists have laid down kq many 

 principles or rules, to he observed in pinne.ing rota- 

 tions, that H is imposs b'e in practice to ob-erve all, or 

 peidiaps ha'f orth;m. Thus the Engl sh writers insist, 

 perhaps more strongly than on nny other point, that 

 green (or gra;^ and roots, or logum'nou^) crops, and 

 white (or gra-n) crops should reg'arly be alternated. 

 Others, that lap-rootc 1 planti should alternate with 

 fibrous and s'lallow rooted. But all these arc minor 

 eoiHideratione compared to the f ircgoing; nnd each or 

 all of them might come in conflict, in the circumstan- 

 ces of th'a eiuntry, with one or more of the more im- 

 portant and indispensable requisites. 



A man has been placsd in the Asylum for the insane, 

 in Philadelphia, because he was caught picking a prin- 

 ter's pocket. 



The bnsy man, say the Turks, is trembled with one 

 devil ; but the idlo man is troubled with a tbonsond. 



Benefits of Root Cultivation. 



The ciiUure of roc i crops for the rearing of ew 

 and for winter (ceding ol cattle I believe to be a gi 

 object to most farntcie. The ninn(;el wurtzel, the 

 gar beet, the common beet, the carrot and perhaps 

 l,nrtnip may he ioi=cd on ground ihot will pre due 

 good ere p of coin: the ruta baga may be lai eJ e 

 i'.:hter soil nnd with ICi* manure than the other en 

 In prcportirn to the quantity pioduccd with the si 

 labor, I am inclined to give the preference to the : 

 btiga. That creip may Le ini.ed with about as I 

 labor as a crop of potatrcs upon the lamc ground, 

 the tenson be f-irtunatc, li.x end eiLhl hundred 

 sometimes a th'HU and buthels to the acre are prcdui 

 a thoufnnd bubhels weighing twenty-five tens, c 

 out to a stock of catde, will be equal in valie i 

 Ica-t ten tons of the best hay. It is a mistake to 

 pofC that the ruta baL'a epoila either the meat or 

 milk of the creature fed upon it. This mistake o! 

 nated in the fact familiar to mnny practical farn 

 that the turning offal catt'e nnd cows into fre^h 1 

 where turnips, cnbbnger?, nnd oni-n^i have been re 

 anil cleared out, leaving tops nnd lea\e3, will n 

 them liable when tlaughtered or milked, to leave 

 meat or the milk minted wi;b the taste and flav 

 the artiiles up'n which they have fed. 



Milch cows fed daily on rntn bngn once a doy, 

 communicate no tnste lo the milk; and if there be 

 doubt about fat cattle, the leaving off ihe ruta bag' 

 week and Bubstituting corn or other feed, will I 

 their n'cai in as good fiavor nnd quality as if ihey 

 fed exclusively on coin. I prefer late eowintr of 

 batin, sny as late as the lOlh of June, to an cnrlier 

 this root grows be^t in cool weather, nnd by late 

 ing it much better e capes the turnip fly and destri 

 irrubs, and has the advantage of a vigorous growtl 

 in the fiill until fcvce freiets shall render it a mat 

 prudence to gather them. Beets of the various k 

 and carrots, to such as do not admire ruta bnga, 

 be made well to supply their place. Fed with e 

 winteir milked cows may be made to give doiibb 

 quantity of that moB' necessary and most gratefi 

 tide in the consumption of every family, thnt the 

 give when fed simply on the best Ehglich hay. 

 the general cultivation of roots, my present conv i 

 is that the quantity of beef and pork and buttc 

 chee e produced in New England, may be incr i 

 one half, and might be very easily doubled.— i 

 HilV s Address ui Kccvc. 



HEALTH— RKdilLATION OF DIE 



Many shut themselves up entirely in unpli i 

 weather, during the long winter, or whenever i 

 find a pressure of business within or unplecsanl v 

 cr without ; nnd yet they ent just as voraciously I 

 they took exercise every day. To say that no 

 lion is to be paid to diet, is iiiadness. You mu ' 

 attention to it sooner or later'. If you are fflitl I 

 take regular vigorous exercise every day in ope I 

 then yon may ent, nnd paV lesi attention to qu I 

 and quality. But if you take but little eXercis ) 

 may be sure that you are 'o he a severe sufferer J 

 do not lake food in the same proportion. I i i 

 ask yoa to diet, that is, to be as difficult, . 1 

 changeable, and as whimsical as possible, as I 

 great pOinl were to see how much you could lo i 

 yourself nnd others ; but I do ask yon to bewaic 8 

 thoqnanfly of food wh ch you buf-rj' into tlie rt. 1 

 throe timei each day, without giving ii any rcf 

 !■> the quantity rather than the kinds of f lod. li 

 destroys sedentary persons; though it is true tb I 

 more fiimplc the fond the better. If you arc unu a 

 hurried this week, if it storms to-day, eo thnt ir i 

 periods, you cannot go out nnd take exeicit 

 your diet be very sparing, though the lemptnlioi i 

 otherwise be very strong. When byanymcmy 

 have been injured by your food, have ovcreteppc I 

 propper limits asto eating, I bnve fnmd in suci i\i 

 that the morn perfect way to re-over, is In fibstn t 

 tirely from f lod f>r three or six meals. By this a 

 the stomach will be free, and the Fyslem restor . 

 took the bint from seeing an idiot who tomelim ll 

 turns of being unwell ; at such limes he abstain ( 

 Irely from food fir three days, in which time {i 

 recivercd hrrsell", nnd be was well. This w fi 

 quently, and perhaps generally, answer instil 

 medicine, and it is every way more pleascnt, T 

 most distinguished phya cians bnve ever rccnirr 

 this course It is a part of the Mahomcdan nnd 

 syslena of religion^ that the body should be re- 

 by frequent fastings, "I,pia bull-dog be fed 

 infancy upon pap, Naples buiecuit and boiled cbi 

 let them be wrapped in flannel at night, sleef 

 feather bed, and ride out in a coaeh for an airing 

 if his posterity do not become shortlived, nnd mij 

 dinarian, it will be a vronder. — Todii'i StumA 

 Manuai. 



