2 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



Fiber crops, as cotton, flax, and hemp. 

 Root crops, as beets, turnips, and carrots. 

 Tubers, as Irish potatoes. 

 Sugar plants, as sugar-beets and sugar-cane. 

 Stimulants, as tobacco, tea, and coffee. 



2. Classification for the study of cropping systems. — 

 For the purpose of studying crop rotation, field crops are 

 divided into six general groups. These are grain crops, 

 grass crops, cultivated crops, catch-crops, green-manure 

 crops, and cover-crops. 



In this classification the grain crops include all crops 

 that are grown primarily for grain and receive no cultiva- 

 tion from seed time until harvest. The grass crops include 

 those crops most commonly grown for hay, or pasture, 

 such as Bermuda-grass, timothy, Kentucky blue-grass, 

 alfalfa, red clover, crimson clover, and the Uke. The 

 cultivated crops, as the name signifies, include all crops 

 so planted as to permit or require intertillage. The term 

 "catch-crop" is used to designate those crops that are 

 used as substitutes for staple crops which, on account 

 of imfavorable conditions, have failed after being planted. 

 They are quick-growing crops such as millet, buckwheat, 

 rye. Green-manure crops are crops that have beenplanted 

 for the purpose of producing organic matter to be plowed 

 into the soil. Cover-crops are used to prevent erosion 

 or leaching. In some cases one crop may be used for two 

 or more of the above purposes. 



3. Important botanical groups. — The classifications 

 given above are not based on any botanical relationships 

 whatever. With few exceptions the important field crops 

 belong to two famiUes, namely, the Graminese or grass 

 family and the Leguminosse or legume family. The 

 former includes all of the cereals, except buckwheat, and 



