Rotation of Crops.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 8

Rotation of Crops.

A systematic rotation of cropping in the vegetable garden is. no doubt, one of the chief elements of success. In the garden of the amateur ifc seldom happens though that a perfect system of cropping rotation is possible owing to the ground being too limited to admit of one crop following another in proper order.

The essence of rotation in cropping is that an exhausting crop should not follow one of a similar character. For example, none of the cabbage tribe, nor even potatoes, should occupy the same site two years consecutively. Now, from experience, I am able to say that such rigid lines are not absolutely necessary. If, however, special preparation for a future crop was not made I cannot &ay that the crop would prove remunerative. I know one allotment holder who has annually cropped the ground with potatoes for the last 20 years, and with success, too. I have myself grown cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts upon the same site for 12 years with success. When the cauliflower and early broccoli are cleared off the ground in autumn a heavy dressing of manure is dug deeply into the soil at once. The soil on the surface is left as rough as possible so that it shall bo exposed to all weather for the five months it is lying idle before the Brussels sprouts are put in in spring. The early broccoli and cauliflower thon go on

to tho ground last occupied by the Brussels sprouts. In some instances vegetable crops do admit of a proper rotation system, and where suoh opportunity does exist it should bo carried out. It is not possible to lay down a thorough system of rotation because the individual character of each garden and the requirements of its owner neee o sitate, perhaps, treatment quite of an opposite character. A tew indications on general lines may bo of sorvico (.o amateurs. Such crops as onions, peas, bean 1 ;, carrots, or beet do not exhaust the soil in tho same way that, the cabbage tribe does. Tho latter, then, along with potatoes, should succeed the crops first enumerated. Celery is a capital crop to precede potatoes or parsnips. Tho earthing required for tho celery is an extra means of digging and moving the soil deeper, and thus it is favourable to deep rooting subjects like parsnips, largo carrots, and for the free rooting of potatoes- Onions are a good crop to precede cabbage for two reasons : First Use crop is cleared in good time to admit of the cabbage being put out early, thus allowing plenty of time for the plant* to becomo well-established belore severe weather sets in ; secondly, for tho crop the ground is generally well manured and freely plied with stimulants, afterwards making tho soil quite rich, which is distinctly in favour of tho cabbage crop. Peas Eucceed beot with abundance of space between the rows to admit air and sunshine to all parts of the row. It is a good plan to aow a row of peas, and then plant about four rows of potatoes, then another row of peas.

Amateurs, as a rule, do not pay sufficient attention to the position which tho crops occupy in the garden. For instance, all tallgrowino crops, like peas and scarlet runners, should bo in rows, running north and south, so that tho sun shines equally on both sides of tho row. This cannot be tho case where the rows rnn_ east and west. — E. M., in Amateur Gardening.