COTTON 
113 
nished new land and soil new to them. Just as an 
animal likes variety in food and a change of pasture, 
so the cotton plant wants occasionally, a new and 
fresh feeding ground. 
A SUGGESTED SCHEME OF CROP ROTATION 
In arranging an order of crop rotation that shall 
serve best your system of farming, it is well to bear 
in mind that plants vary : — 
1. As to taste in kinds and quantity of plant 
food. 
2 . In feeding habits . 
3. In the power to add humus to the soil, or 
(because of culture) to use it up. 
4. In the ability of some, like cowpeas, alfalfa, 
and the clovers, to add nitrogen to the soil. 
These are only general rules but should be em- 
ployed whenever possible because their use will aid 
materially in the rapid improvement of cotton lands. 
An example of such a rotation is given herewith : 
First 
Year 
Second Year 
Third 
Year 
Summer 
Fall 
Summer 
Winter 
Summer 
Winter 
Corn 
Cow- 
peas* 
Cotton 
Oats or 
Wheat 
Cow- 
peas 
Rye or 
Clover 
•Planted in corn at last cultivation. 
If you examine this three-year-course rotation 
you will find that it includes two nitrogen crops 
(cowpeas and clover) for soil improvement and hay; 
two cultivated crops (corn and cotton) for physical 
