65 CROP 
ROTATION 
the only reason he has for buying chemical 
fertilizers. 
This shows the importance of leguminous 
crops to the farm. They supply this nitrogen 
at almost no cost, or at a profit. 
Some plants have more power than others to 
use the contents of the subsoil, and may draw 
less on the upper soil, and further, by their 
decay may add richness to the earth. Most 
legumes have this power to take nourishment 
from the subsoil. 
Well-planned rotation helps to maintain the 
supply of decayed stuff in the soil, on which 
the plants feed. It also improves the soil’s 
texture. Moreover, it not only lessens the 
necessity for much chemical fertilizer, but it 
puts those fertilizers to better use. Where 
live stock is kept, crops should be raised to 
feed the stock to make manure. 
Rotation is, also, a plan for cleaning the soil. 
Different weeds and insects grow after different 
crops and the succession or “rotation” as we 
call it, prevents any kind getting a secure hold. 
It enables the farmer to meet the demands 
of the market, by continuous crops. 
