AGRICULTURE OF JACKSON COUNTY. 
65 
food that is readily available, while corn is less particular in 
this respect. 
By properly rotating crops, therefore, the soil is subjected 
to these different “feeding* characteristics.” One crop compen¬ 
sates for the other, and there is maintained more nearly a bal- 
anced condition than with the single crop system. 
It is of great importance that in selecting crops to grow, 
careful consideration be given to the question of climate. This 
is about the only factor which the farmer absolutely cannot con¬ 
trol. A poor soil may be improved, better markets may be 
found, and better labor secured; but the farmer is powerless 
to change climatic conditions. He must, therefore, select such 
crops as are suited to his climate. 
The soil is also a factor of great importance. As a general 
rule, small grain crops do better on heavy than on light soils, 
and the same is true of grasses grown for hay. On the other 
hand, the same variety of corn requires a shorter season for 
maturity on light than on heavv soil. Rather light soils and 
those of intermediate texture are better adapted to potato grow¬ 
ing and root crops. Therefore, on light soils a greater acreage 
should be devoted to cultivated crops than on heavy types. 
Shipping and marketing facilities must also be considered 
in planning a rotation. The farmer located on a sandy loam 
farm close to a railroad station or home market will often find 
it profitable to include potatoes in his rotation. If he is located 
six or seven miles from a station, the profits from growing 
potatoes will be much lessened. It will then pay him better to 
raise more corn for stock feeding, and to convert his crops into 
dairy products which are less bulky, and which for the same 
bulk have a greater value. 
There is no one best system of rotation. The rotation depends 
on the system of farming, and this depends largely on the 
personal choice of the farmer, for some prefer one system and 
some another. It is highly desirable to rotate crops, but a 
serious mistake to think that rotation takes the place of other 
equally sound practices, such as liming and fertilizing. 
Following are a few suggestions which will apply to the 
western part of Jackson county, and may serve as outlines to 
be modified according to varying conditions. 
As much of the land in western Jackson county is quite roll¬ 
ing this factor should he considered in working out a rotation. 
