Novemper 6, 1905 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
Azsriculture and Stock. 
Rotation of Crops. 
R- W. PEACOCK. 
HE most economic system of farming is 
one based upon a system of rotation of 
those crops found most suitable to the condi- 
- tions of a district. It is fortunate that there is 
“such a wide range of crops from which to 
choose, also that there are various avenues 
through which such crops may be turned to 
profit. A profitable system of rotation is in- 
separably connected with mixed farming. 
Mixed farming may be interpreted to mean a 
~ system in which crops may be grown for direct - 
sale, and also for indirect sale, in the forms of 
ive stock and their products. Such a system 
allows of the soil, the rainfall,and the atmo- 
sphere being linked together most etfectively 
and economically. 
Amongst the advantages to be gained from a 
rational plan of crop rotation are te follow- 
ing :— 
Soil fertility is retained and, under certain 
conditions, increasea. 
The plant food of the soil is more economi- 
cally appropriated. 
There is not the same necessity for applica- 
tions of manures. 
Cultivation necessary for the successful cul- 
ture of one crop may materially benefit a 
different crop to follow. 
Y Wild Nature Scene at St Katherine’s. , 
Weeds which thrive amongst certain crops 
are checked, and often exterminated, by resort- 
ing from one crop to anothar of a different’ 
order. 
Plant diseases and insect pests may be 
checked, and often prevented, by a systematic 
change of crops. 
The locality of live stock is continuously 
changed, allowing the pastures to sweeten and 
tke destruction of parasitic germs. 
The farm work is more evenly distributed _ 
thronghout the year, which brings abeut con- 
tinuous employment and a more settled class of 
agricultural laborers. 
Risk of failure is minimised by not staking 
all in one venture. 
Tt allows of monetary returns being available 
at various seasons of the year. 
The elements of plant food of most import- 
ance to the farmer, owing to their being readily 
exhausted, are nitrogen, phosphorous and po- 
tash. Plants differ in the relative quantities 
of these elements they require. 
grown for many years upon the same field, may 
suffer froin exhaustion of one or more of these 
- elements, and are benefited mostly by applica- 
tions of phosphatic and nitrogenous manures, 
Leguminous or pod bearing plants contain © 
quantities of nitrogen, a supply of which they 
are enabled, by the aid of micro-organisms, to 
obtain from the atmosphere permeating the 
suil. Cereal aud other. crops have not this 
power. 
manures, are therefore, not 
so necessary for leguminous 
crops. Potassic and phospha- 
tic manures generally give 
beneficial results. Root crops 
contain considerable quanti- 
ties of potash, and are bene- 
fited by manures containing 
the three ingredients. The 
soil may have an abundance 
of one and be deficient of 
others. Fertile soils contain 
an abundance of available 
plant food. Some crops are 
surface feeders; others ob- 
tain part of their nourish- 
ment from a considerable 
depth. Cereal crops are com- 
paratively surface feeders. 
er than barleys. Lucerne is 
a very deep rooter, and col- 
lects plant food from consi- 
derable depths, and it comes 
to the surface in the form of 
crop. Clovers also root fairly 
rooting plants are fed to 
stock on the field, a consider- 
able quantity of the plant 
surface. Root crops, such as 
carrots, .are decp rooters, 
whilst potatoes are surfacc 
feeders. Root development 
has a considerable influence 
upon the mechanical condi- 
tions of the soil. 
Cereal crops, if - 
Applications of nitrogenous - 
Wheats and ryes root deep-" 
- deeply, aud when these deep-' 
food from below enriches the* 
Sarghum 
Amber Cane Lucerne 
Essex Rape 
Globe and Long Red Mangold 
And Paspalum Seed 
0000 
Bone Dust 
Bone Super Ammonia « 
Shell grit | Oyster. shells 
Bone Meal ... and ... Chick Meal 
F. F. Clement, 
SEEDSMAN 
229 RUNDLE STREET EAST 
Telephone 1360 
F. G. Lillingston 
Electrical Engineer 
; ~ And 
Contractor 
as 
[mporter and Hlectroplater 
122 Grenfell Strest (near Arcade), Adelaide. - 
E, P. RUSH, 
.. Cycle and Motor. A 
MANUFACTURER 
AND 
REPAIRER, 
35 Pulteney Street, Adelaide 
-Cycies and Motors Built e Order 
and Roprics at Reasonable 
Rates. 
0000 
_. ALL WORK GUARANTEED .., 
