THE OLDEST RECORD OF CROP ROTATION 
The oldest record of crop rotation is found in the Bible, Exodus XXIII, Verses 10 and 11. 
“and six years thou shall sow thy land and shall gather in the fruits thereof but the seventh year thou 
shall let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the 
field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard and thy oliveyard .” 
Since that time rotation has been practiced in a more active way, giving the soil “rest” from the demands of 
the same crop year after year. 
If you are a business farmer you know only maximum yields mean real profits and the following information, 
even if not new to you, will stand reviewing: 
1. —Rotating involves no expense but proves to be almost as valuable to the land as manuring does with¬ 
out its practice. 
2. You cannot secure top yields regardless of fertilizer without it. Maximum crops come from a com¬ 
bination of both. 
3. —In liming sour soil, it is interesting to know that rotating increases its value 20% over that of what 
fertilization will do. 
4. —Insect pests and obnoxious weeds are reduced by it. 
5. —Varying soil conditions on your farm are analyzed through rotating and thus you can determine 
which soils produce their favorite crop. 
6. —A definite place for leguminous crops so essential for the replacing of nitrogen in the soil is provided 
through rotating. 
Example of a flexible rotating plan: 
First year — Corn, or Corn and Potatoes 
Second year — Oats or Barley 
Third year — Wheat 
Fourth year — Soy Beans or Clover 
CULTURAL DIRECTIONS FOR PRODUCTION OF THE SOY BEAN 
This legume of wide adaptation and so valuable as a “green manure” also excels in the pro¬ 
duction of digestible proteine. Per acre Soy beans produce 100 to 150 pounds of nitrogen 
for soil improvement, and green feed 2 to 3 tons better than alfalfa in feeding value. The 
seed is relatively low in cost and the crop is easily grown. 
a. Prepare the seed-bed as for corn, (mellow and clean of weeds). 
b. Lime applications, although not required, will usually be profitable. Use 500 lbs. 
to the acre. 
c. Fertilize with 350 pounds of 4-16-20 or 500 pounds 10% phosphate with manure. 
d. Inoculate seed just before planting. 
e. Drill or broadcast 1)G to 2 bushels of beans, covering 1 to l}4 inches deep. 
f. Plant only in a warm soil (after corn planting) up to July 1st. (Early seedings for 
grain and for hay; later for green-feed or plowing under.) 
g. Two weeks after planting broadcast 20 lbs. Soudan Grass and harrow lightly. 
h. Cut for hay as pods first form; for grain as pods are filled. 
i. For silage, grow beans separately, fill with ki Soy Beans and 2 3 corn. 
j. For hay, rake to windrows when wilted; cure in small cocks till dry. 
k. Avoid rough handling to save the leaves. Be patient in curing. 
l. Turn cocks to dry. Rain on the hay looks bad, but does very little harm. 
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