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VOL. LVII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., MARCH 1, 1902.
NO. 9
Judicious Crop Rotation.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
The corn-oats-clover-eorn rotation tbat
has come into vogue throughout the great
corn belt, during the past 15 or 20 years,
has supplied the needful nitrogen for the
vigorous foliage growth, and has drawn
on the residue of the depleted supply of
potash and phosphoric acid, for the fruitful (seed producing) growth of corn and
cats.
But as corn, oats and clover all feed so
heavily on the available supply of phosphorous and potassium in the soil, the
average soil of the corn belt is in consequence not only "corn ami oats sick" but
it is fast becoming "clover sick" also. The
corn anil oats rotation which followed
the discontinuance of the universal wheat
growing, in order to work out the theory
of "changing the ground", in many localities is yet being intensely practiced.
Through long experience as a cereal
breeder, and wholesale seed grower, covering many year-;, the writer has concluded
that with the proper systematic crop rotation, laud never becomes "worn out".
For in such a rotation, while'
one particular kind of crop
feeds heavily on 1 or 2 of the
most important plant foods,
its success in a well directed
rotation, in turn supplies
the soil with the elements absorbed by its predecessor. Some crops aucb
as corn, wheat, oats anil
other cereals while they are
the veriest of surface feeders, other crops such as
broom com, sorgum . sunflower, mammoth clover, alfalfa, sugar-beets, turnips
aud other root crops which
might be mentioned draw
their sustenance from deep
down in the clay subsoil,
far out of the reach of the
shillow rooting cereal crops.
And during the growth of
such deeply rooting crops,
they store the surface soil
full of potassium and phosphorus, for the vigorous
and fruitful growth of the
shallow-rooting cereal crops,
which should be the participants in a systematic well-
directed rotation.
A  soil  that  has  been  so
depleted of its surface sup-	
ply of phosphoric acid and potash, by successive cropping with any particular crop
or crops, that it does not contain at least
the three most important elements of plant
lood in a well balanced proportion
(clover-sick soil for instance), such soil
having an over abundance of nitrogenous
fcod always produces small grains with
abundant but weak straw, and iufer'or,
shrunken srain. And according to the
writer's observation in widely separated
localities throughout the great corn belt,
where the corn-oats-clover rotation is
supremo, the ground continually possesses
such an abundant supply of nitrogen, that
a large foliage and stock growth in corn, is
produced, out of all proportion to the
quantity and quality of its grain. And
it is his opinion that such lands are badly
in need of a systematic crop rotation which
includes the deeply rooting, phosphorus-
potassium gathering crops.
With the proper systematic rotation of
crops, the chemical condition of the soil
is constantly improved, while securing
maximum crop production, without the aid
of the application of expensive commercial
fertilizers.
Another important result of such rotation is that neither insect pests, or fungus
diseases, can long withstand the constant
change of the conditions of feeding, and
life which such a systematic rotation
necessarily  involves.
But one says: "I am a clover crank,
give me clover for maximum crop production."
In truth, there is no such a thing as any
soil becoming entirely depleted of its supply of the necessary elements of vigorous
plant growth, provided tho proper crop
rotation is practiced. But the practice of
growing clover or other legumes which
feed so heavily on the soluable phosphorus
end potassium in* a surface soil, that they
soon so exhaust the soil of the two most
important elements of plant food that tho
soil in consequence not only becomes
"legume sick" but "grain sick" as well.
In this connection it will be well for the
reader to remember that the clover plant
which enters so largely into the present
system of crop rotation, is properly classed
Sharp Tools and   Where   to   Find  Them.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
For saving time and labor on a farm the
user must have sharp tools to work with
Then it follows that the most convenient
thing to have on a farm is a good grindstone. By this I mean one with a strong
frame, good rollers, a first class stone,
which runs perfectly. Thousands of farmers that have this convenient tool will testify that it is a labor saver. I take it
for granted that every farmer has a good
grindstone. If not, get one. You will
never invest money any better. At this
season of the year some farmers use their
axes almost every day, either in cutting
wood or cutting something else. All
know how much labor is saved by having
a keen edge on the ax. Among other
convenient things I must mention is "a
place for everything." How much good
time is lost hunting for things? And
why? Bccase we didn't have a place for
them, and jnst dropped them when we
were through using them. How many
farmers have a place for their scythe?
I  dare say it would save time  in  going
still and take it. Do not depend altogether
on the game warden. N. H. N.
Bartholomew Co.
Shell roid on the Indian River, near Rockledge, Florida.
with the legumes.
After a careful reading of all the ah rye
by the intelligent readers of this paper,
the writer believes that they will readily
agree with him that the present system of
crop rotation so gener'.lly practiced
throughout the great corn belt, is a very
wasteful one. And that a new system
of crop rotation which includes the growing of a great variety of crops, will, by .lire
necessity, force itself to the front.
The writer has given this subject much
thought during the past few years. Yet
he does not consider "that he knows it all
by a long shot,', and to consider <hat there
s*re many intelligent readers of this paper
who by reason of long practical field experience, are well qualified to give valuable additional information on this important subject. And to all such who will
write bim their personal experience along
this Hue by early mail, he will be pleased
to give further detailed information on the
subject in hand, as far as lies within his
knowledge. J. C. Snfforn.
Voorh.es, III.
after it, if nothing else, to bring it to the
tool house or some shed. I might ask
how many have places for their drags,
plows, harrows, cultivators and hay
frames? Or how many lay them aside
in a fence corner from one season to the
next? Keep your tools in a certain place
and to save labor on man and beast keep
them sharp. J. T. A.
Monroe Co.
Amendment to the Game Law.
editor*   Indiana  Farmer:
I wi«h to add my endorsement to Mr.
Smith's suggestion concerning the word
"enclosed" in section 8 of the present
game law. Most of the bottom lands are
not enclosed and much of the upland. As
the law now is. if yon wish to catch one
hunting on land not enclosed he will say.
"This is not enclosed, nnd the law requires
it to be." With some little changes the
law suits uie. I think it much the best
yet passed. The farmers can have something to say now. But they will have to
enforce it or they will be run over just
as liifnre when they find out yon  will be
R Making Cement Walks and Floors.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Judging by inquiries the subject of cement floors is of general interest to your
many readers. The object is to make a
cement floor durable; the requisites for
this are, first, good material—cement,
gravel and sand, second, thorough work in
mixing and raminiug. American Portland
of any good brand is all right, for the
work, anywhere. Fresh cement if the
cheaper brands will do in barn basement,
where reasonably dry. Th-? gravel and
sand should be coarse and clean.
The best method is to make the floor
iu two stratas. The lower strata should be
nbont four inches thick; the upper about
one inch thick; though for cattle 2% to 3
inches for lower and \'i to % for upper will
stand. The lower strata is made 1 part
Portland to 8 parts coarse gravel. (If cheap,
cement 1 to 4). The upper strata, 1 part
to 2 parts coarse screened sand. The lower
  lower  is to give  body,  the
upper for wear. These floors
may be laid in any position
one may desire. If in basement, may be laid right on
the earth; mine is so laid,
Otherwise 6 inches of gravel
should first be laid for
drainage. One can use more
gravel if needed to bring
work up to desired level,
wet and tamp well. By doing one's own work he can
economize material and
know that the mixing and
tamping are thoroughly
done, for, I may well repeat
on thoroughness of mixing
and tamping good material
depends the quality of the
work. Having the foundation prepared the work is
laid in sections 4 or 5 feet
wide, a suitable scantling is
used for side, moved back
and stacked for each section.
The wo-k is leveled with
strait-edge. This may be
notched at ends on one
side to suit thickness of top
strata, with notches down
th? lower strata is leveled,
with notches up the top
strata is made with
scantHng and surface of last
section     laid. The  material  must  be
well mixed dry. enough for both stratas of
a section should be mixed before any is
wet. Wet the grout with sprinkling can.
One sprinkle while another hoes the mass
over. Do not make dripping wet. Make
upppcr strata wet enough to flow well in
front of strait-edge. Get upper onto
lower strata as soon as possible to insure
union of the two. When a section has
stood a little while go all over it thoroughly with a float ("a piece of inch board 6x
VI Inches with handle on the back like
plastering trowel. This will even up all
depressions and leave a surface on which
stock will not slip. Do not finish with
metal trowel. One may build foundation
walls using 2 2-inch plank for frame or
sides, mixing cement as for top strata,
well wet. Pour a quantity into frame, from
buckets and force all the boulders or
broken stone one can into the mass. A
good wall can be built quickly in this
maimer showing cement faces, bnt containing much stone. W. T. Hill.