THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
DecemsBer 15, 1905 
Avsriculiture and Stock. 
Rotation of Crops. 
No. II, 
R. W. PEACOCK. 
Crrartic and local conditions determine in a 
great measure the crops which can be used to 
advantage. Other factors, such as price of seed, 
may render the general growth of some imprac- 
ticable. The season of growth must be taken 
into consideration as well as the duration of a 
crop. In farm practice sufficient time to allow 
of the satisfactory preparation of the land, be- 
tween the crops, must be allowed. In districts 
with limited rainfall several months are re- 
quired. 
Rotations which have been found most 
suitable for the conditions of the Bathurst dis- 
trict, together with the methods adopted and 
the reasons for such, as the following— 
Rape, first year 
Wheat, second year 
Black tares, third year 
Wheat, fourth year 
The rape should be sown in February upon 
well prepared land. Upon light soils an appli- 
_ cation of phosphatic manure, containing a pro- 
portion of nitrogen, such as Shirley’s No. 3, 
would be beneficial. The crop is fed off by sheep 
throughout the winter and spring. The residue 
of ‘crop and excreta from stock are ploughed 
under in November. The land is left in this 
condition until the end of March or beginning 
of April, when it is again ploughed and sown 
early in April with wheat. During the summer 
the crop residue, etc., is decaying and becoming 
available for the ensuing wheat crop. The 
moisture of the soil is conserved by the plough- 
ing in November, and any storms or showers are 
readily absorbed by the surface. Rape is a 
moderately deep rooter, and the thick roots, 
aiter decaying, form air channels in the soil, 
which are beneficial. The manure applied in- 
duces a more vigorous growth from which a 
_greater quantity of stock food is obtained, also 
the increased crop residue and excreta ulti- 
mately form a greater amount of plant-food for 
the wheat crop. The vegetable matter thus given 
to the soil improves it mechanically, and the 
surface is not so liable to get out of condition 
by consolidating after heavy rains, 
_ All weeds, including wild oats and stray 
wheat plants, peculiar to the wheat season, and 
which gain a foothold in the wheat crop to its 
detriment, are destroyed by the continuous 
stocking of the rape with sheep. The land is 
perfectly cleaned for the growth of a crop for 
‘seed purposes. 
The wheat crop of the second year yields 
considerably more than if it were preceded by 
a similarcrop. The land would be ploughed as 
goon us soon as possible after the wheat is har- 
vested. 
The black tares of the third year should be 
sown in February or early in March. 
not grow so quickly as rape and do not provide 
such quantities of winter fodder for sheep. In 
the spring they provide large quantities of good 
fodder. The plants should be kept from seed- 
ing, and the residue ploughed under about 
November. This crop is enabled, by the agency 
of bacteria, to fix in its tissues nitrogen obtained 
from the atmosphere of the soil. The ploughing 
in of the residue and excreta from sheep en- 
riches the soil in nitrogen which is, during the 
They do — * 
processes of decomposition, rendered available 
for the ensuing wheat crop. By such methods 
fertility is maintained. 
The above system of rotation may be modi- 
fied to meet the exigencies of the farm. Many 
other crops may be substituted without materi- 
ally altering the system. In the place of wheat, 
other cereals, such as barleys, oats, and tares, 
may be substituted. Other leguminous plants, 
such as Scarlet clover, which is an annual, and 
field peas, may take the place of Black tares. 
While mustard would, to a certain extent, take 
the place of rape. A mixture of both can be 
grown to advantage. 
In a modified form of the above system, 
lucerne could be sown as leguminous crop. It 
makes excellent pasturage when sown upon 
wheat land. It should be used as the last crop 
of the course, and be down for three or four 
years, after which the land can come under 
cereal crops again with advantage. 
To rotations with the summer] crops the 
same underlying principles apply. As cereals, 
maize, sorghum and millet may be sown. For 
leguminons crop, cowpeas may be sown with 
advantage; they are hardy, and make excellent 
sheep food. Potatoes and swedes]may be used 
as root crops. The cultivation necessary for the 
successful growth of summer crops when sown 
in drills improves the tilth, keeps down weeds, 
and. liberates plant food, which is valuable for 
the ordinary cereal crops, such as wheat. Other 
crops, such as pumkins, melons, mangolds, 
onions, Jerusalem artichokes, kale and sheeps- 
burnet, may be fitted in at the discretion of the 
farmer. 
Sorghum 
Amber Cane Lucerne 
Essex Rape 
Globe and Long Red Mangold 
And Paspalum Seed 
0000 
Bone Dust 
Bone Super Ammonia 
Etc. . Etc. 
Shell grit | Oyster shells 
Bone Meal ... and ... Chick Meal | 
EES @lements 
SEEDSMAN 
2299 RUNDLE STREET EAST 
Telephone 1360 i 
S, Marshall & Sons have just opened a fine 
selection of new Pianos and Organs of latest 
designs and models. All werthy of inspection, 
This is taking the summer egg as being sold 
as soon after production as possible. Ifwe take 
into consideration the possibilities of preserva- 
tion by cold storage and other methods, then the 
summer egg assumes the position of a blessing 
in disguise. 
~~ 
ay pet 
aig aay bb anal 
F. ARMBRUSTER ¢UHLMANN 
Wholesale 5 
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AND | 
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ADELAIDE. 
Sole Agents for— 
FLOR DE CRETA CIGARS 
STERLING SMOKING MIXTURE 
MY PET TOBACCO—Twist, Plugs and Cut 
Dark and Aromatic. 
Waste Tobacco for Spraying and Fumigating. 
FOR. Rickards 
(Late of E. P. Rush) 
Cycle Motor Builder 
.gPulteney Street, Adelaide 
Opposite P. Small’s. Gaz 
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Cycles Built to order 
&8 8s to £17 
Bells and Lamps. 
Tyres and all accessories, 
Cash or terms arranged to suit customers. 
Country customers premptly attended to. 
Private Address—Porter Streot, PARKSIDE 
- Repairs a speciality. 
Cycles on hire. 
Agents wanted in every town. 
«Sask Pane, 
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UNLEY ROAD 
A CHOICE STOCK OF 
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To Select from. 
A. Trial solicited. 
Agent for the Australian Gardener. 
‘Afiss Thempseny 
Costumiere. 
0000 . 
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Moderate Charges. 
A Trial Solicited. 
Orders ; promptly and accurately 
executed, - 
Address— 
442 Pulteney-street, 
Opp, Wallmann’s. Adelaide 
