32 
BULLETIN 651, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
CROP ROTATION. 
The preceding pages show quite definitely the limitations of the 
various crops grown in this area. The most suitable crop rotation 
for the well-organized farm can therefore be determined quite accu- 
rately. Other crops may be added to this rotation and variations 
made to suit the individual farm. But if one of the rotations out- 
lined below is followed, the necessary steps are taken to secure good 
yields, and the proper acreage of crops are grown per mule, the 
farm should prove profitable. 
Table XXIII. — Three methods of planning a five-year rotation for this area. 
Year. 
1 
2 
3 
Cotton 
Cotton 
Cotton. 
Cotton 
Cotton 
Corn with cowpeas. 
Cotton. 
Third rear 
Cotton 
Corn with cowpeas 
Cotton 
Corn with, cowpeas 
Oats followed by cowpeas. 
Cotton. 
fifth year 
Oats followed by cowpeas. 
Oats followed by cowpeas. 
The average acreage and the most profitable acreage per work 
animal has been shown to be between 20 and 23 acres. Taking this 
as a basis, 40 per cent, or two-fifths, of the crop land will, under 
average conditions, grow the feed crops required for home consump- 
tion, leaving 60 per cent, or three-fifths, for cotton. This makes a 
five-year rotation, which may be cotton, cotton, cotton, corn 
with cowpeas, and oats followed by cowpeas, as shown in Table 
XXIII. In many instances it would also be advisable to plant oats 
after cotton and cotton after corn, as the oats can be drilled in the 
cotton rows, and less labor in planting would be required. The 
objection to planting cotton after corn is that the corn stalks inter- 
fere with the cotton cultivation. With 20 crop acres per mule in 
staple crops there would be five fields of 4 acres each, or, with 22| 
acres, five fields of 4£ acres each. 
In addition, there should be some miscellaneous crops which 
may or may not be made a part of the rotation. With 20 acres of 
staple crops per mule there would be 12 acres of cotton and 4 acres 
each of the other crops, or if there were 22J acres, there would be 
13J acres of cotton and 4^ acres each of the other crops. With 
this as a basis, it would be an easy matter for the farmer to substitute 
1 acre of oats and vetch for 1 acre of corn, and perhaps another acre 
of oats, followed by Irish potatoes, for a second acre of corn, if the 
individual case warranted it. This would require the feeding of a 
higher proportion of oats and hay to live stock than is now fed, but 
as the cost of producing these crops is relatively less than the cost of 
producing corn, the change would be profitable to the farmer. Alfalfa 
can be added to this cropping system as it is found profitable, and 
winter cover crops can be planted in cotton to increase vields. 
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