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Rotations of Crops for Dogue Run, 1793

Rotations of Crops for Dogue Run

[1793]

Rotation of Crops for Dogue Run
No. of
the Fields
Rotation No. 1
1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799
3 Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
4 Clover
or Grass
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
5 Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover
or Grass
6 Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Corn or
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat
7 Wheat Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Corn or
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
1 B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat
2 Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Clover
or Grass
Corn &
Potatoes
Number of Plowings—the times at which they must be given—and the days it will take
   acres Fall Wintr Mar. Aprl May June July Augt Sep. Total
No. 3 75  Corn & Pots. Breaking up 100 100
layg off, & listing   60   60
crossing for Plantg   10   10
Plowing Balks   70   70
Crossing them   70   70
Re-crossing   70   70
Sowing Wheat   75   75
4 } 225  Clover or Grass
5
6
1 75  B. Wheat for Man[ur]e Breaking up 100 100
Crossing for Sowg 100 100
Plowing in 100 100
2 75  Wheat Corn grd
7 75  Ditto on B: Wheat 100 100
   525    200   60 110   70 170   70 175 855
Probable Yield.
No. 3 75  in Corn a 12½  bushls 937½  bushls a 2/6 £117.3.9
 & Potatoes 12½ 937½    1/     46.17.6
2 }
7 150  Wheat 10 1500      5/   375
1 75  B. Wht for Mane
4 }
5 255  Clover or Grass
6
525 3375   £539.1.3

                Remarks                

The above Rotation favors the land very much; inasmuch as there are but three Corn Crops taken in Seven years from any field, & the first Wheat Crop is followed by a Buck Wheat manure for the second Wheat Crop, wch is to succeed it; & which by being laid to Clover or Grass & continued therein three years will aford much Mowing or Graising, according as the Seasons happen to be, besides being a restorative to the Soil. But then, the produce of the Saleable Crops is small, unless encreased by the improving State of the fields. Nor will the Grain for the use of the Farm be adequate to the consumpti<on> of it in this Course, and this is an essential object to attend to--& quere--whether the Clover does not remain too long.

Rotation No. 2 Same place.
No. of
the Fields
1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799
3 Corn &
Potatoes
B: Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover Wheat Clover
4 Clover Corn &
Potatoes
B: Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover Wheat
5 Pasture Pasture Corn &
Potatoes
B: Wheat B: Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover
6 Pasture Wheat Clover Corn &
Potatoes
B: Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat
7 Wheat Clover Wheat Clover Corn &
Potatoes
B. Wheat B: Wheat
for Manure
1 B: Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover Wheat Clover Corn &
Potatoes
B. Wheat
2 Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat Clover Wheat Clover Corn &
Potatoes
Plowings &ca &ca for the above Crops
   Acrs.    Fall Wintr Mar. Aprl May June July Aug. Sep. Total
No. 3 75  in Corn & Potatoes      same as N. 1 100   60   10   70   70   70   75   455
4 } 150 Clover
6 }
1 75 B: Wheat Crop breaking up 100   100
2d Plowing 100   100
2 75 Wheat Corn grd   
7 75 Ditto on B: W. breaking up 100   100
crossg & Sowing 100   100
Plowing in B: W. 100   100
Sowing Wheat 100   100
Buck Wht for M.
75 as above.
525 200    160 110   70 270   70 175 1055
Probable Yield
   Bushls   
No. 3 75  in Corn 12½ bushls 937½ a 2/6 £117.3.9
 & Potatoes 12½ Do 937½    1/     40.17.6
4 } 225  Clover & Grass
5
6
    
2 } 150  Wheat 10 1500    5/   375
7
75  suppd in B. Wheat 12 900    1/8     75
   525    4,275    £614.1.3

      Remarks.      

By the above Rotation, 900 bushls of B. Wheat, amounting to £75, is added to the proceeds of No. 1 at the expence of 200 days more plowing--And no two Corn Crops follow in immediate succession. Wheat, in one instance, follows a Clover lay on a single Plowing; the success of this, tho’ well ascertained in England, may not answer so well in this Country, where our lands from the exhausted State of them require more manure than the Farm can afford & our Seasons are very precarious.

Rotation No. 3 same place
No. of
the Fields
1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799
3 Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B: Wheat
for Manure
Wheat B: Wheat Clover
or othr
Grass
Clover
or other
Grasses
4 Clover
or othr
Grasses
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat B: Wheat Clover
or other
Grasses
5 Clover
or other
Grasses
Clover
or other
Grasses
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B: Wheat
for Manure
Wheat B: Wheat
6 B: Wheat Clover
or other
Grasses
Clover
or other
Grasses
Corn &
Potates
Wheat B: Wheat
for Manure
Wheat
7 Wheat B. Wheat Clover
or other
Grasses
Clover
or other
Grasses
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B: Wheat
for Manure
1 B: Wheat
for Manure
Wheat B: Wheat Clover
or other
Grasses
Clover
or other
Grasses
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat
2 Wheat
for Manure
B: Wheat
or other
Wheat
or other
B. Wheat Clover
or other
Grasses
Clover
or other
Grasses
Corn &
Potatoes
Plowing &ca &ca for the above Crops
   acrs.    Fall Winr Mar. Apl May June July Aug. Sepr Total
No. 3   75 in Corn as before & P.      100   60   10   70   70   70   75 455
4 } 150 Clover or &ca
5
6 75 B: Wheat 100 100
2d Plowing 100 100
1 75 B: Wht Mane
1st Plowing 100
2. do & sowg 100 100
3 do plowg in 100 100
4 do Sowg Wht 100 100
7 75 Wheat sown as above
2 75 Wht with Corn
         100       160 110 170 170 170 175 955 1
Probable Yield
   acrs.        Bushls   
No. 3 75  in Corn 12½ bushls   937½      2/6 £117.  3.9
 & Potatoes 12½ Do   937½ 1/     40.17.6
4 } 150  Clovr or Grass
5
6 75  B. Wheat 12   900 1/8     75
1 75  B. Wht Mane
2 } 150  Wheat 10 1500 5/   375
7
   525    4275    £614.1.3

The above Rotation in point of produce & profit is precisely the same as No. 2 but differs in the succession of Crops. It requires about the same Plowings; and these plowings are pretty regularly distributed through the Spring & Summer Months. The Wheat field which follows the B: Wheat manure, might have the Stubble turned in immediately after harvest for manure and for Green food (proceeding from the shattered grain) for Sheep, Calves &ca in the Winter & Spring.

Rotation No. 4 same Place
No. of
the Fields
1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799
3 Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wht Clover Wheat B: Wheat Clover
4 Clover Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wht Clover Wheat B. Wheat
5 B. Wht Clover Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wht Clover Wheat
6 Clover B. Wht Clover Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wht Clover
7 Wheat Clover B. Wht Clover Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
1 B. Wht Wheat Clover B. Wht Clover Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat
2 Wheat B. Wht Wheat Clover B. Wht Clover Corn &
Potatoes
Plowings &ca &ca for the above Crops
   acs.    Fall Win Mar. Aprl May June July Aug. Sep. Total
No. 3   75 for Corn & Potatoes 100   60   10   70   70   70   75 455
4 } 150 Clover
6
5 } 150 B. Wheat breakg 100 100 200
1
Sowing 100 100 200
7 } 150 Wheat—one field
2
follows. Corn.
The other Clover.
1 plowing 100 100
   100      60 110 170 170 170 175    955
Probable Yield
     Acrs.    Bushls    Bushls   
No. 3 75  in Corn a 12½   937½ a 2/6 £117.3.9
 same in Potatoes    12½   937½    1/     46.17.6
4 } 150  Clover
6
5 } 150  B. Wheat    12 1800    1/8   150
1
7 } 150  Wheat    10 1500    5/   375
2
   525    5175    £689.1.3

                Remarks.                

This Rotation, for quantity of Grain & the profit arising from it, is more productive than either of the preceeding; and with no more plowing, excepting No. 1—No field gives more than three Corn Crops in 7. years, except the Crop of B: Wht. The last of wch with the Indian Corn, will be more than adequate for all the demands of the Farm. The Clover is to be Sown with the B. W. in July; and by being only one year in the grd may be too expensive on acct of the Seed—nor will the fields in this Course receive any green manure. and the advantages of sowing Wheat on a Clover lay in this Country is not well ascertained—again, preparg 2 fields for B. Wht may in practi<ce> be found difficult—Wheat Stubble might be plowed in here for Spring food.

Rotation No. 5 Same Place.
No. of
the fields
1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799
3 Corn &
Potato’s
Wheat Clover Wheat Clover Whea B. Wheat
4 B. Wheat Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat Clover Wheat Clover Wheat
5 Wheat B: Wht Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat Clover Wheat Clover
6 Clover Wheat B: Wht Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat Clover Wheat
7 Wheat Clover Wheat B: Wht Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat Clover
1 Clover Wheat Clover Wheat B: Wht Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat
2 Wheat Clover Wheat Clover Wheat B. Wht Corn &
Potatoe
Plowings &ca &ca for the above Crops
   Acs.    Fall Winr Mar. Apl May June July Augt Sep. Total
No. 3 75    for Corn & Potatoes 100   60   10   70   70   70   75 455
4 75  B: Wht breakg up 100 100
2d Plowing 100 100
6 } 150  Clover
1
2 75  Wheat corn grd
5 } 150  Ditto on Clovr
7
1 Plowing 105 105 210
   100 100   60   10   70 170   70 180 105 865
Probable Yield.
   Acrs.      Bushls   
No. 3 75  in Corn 12½ Bushls   937½ 2/6 £117.  3.9
 same in Potatoes 12½   937½ 1/     46.17.3
4 75  B. Wheat 12   900 1/8     75.0.0
6 } 150  Clover
1
2 } 225  Wheat 10 2250 5/   562.10.0
5
7
   525    5025    £801.11.0

                Remarks                

By the above Rotations, the quantity of Grain is nearly equal to that of No. 4, and the value of it greater; occasioned by the encrease of Wheat. This rotation is effected with as little plowing as No. 1. and with less than in either of the other three Numbers, 2, 3 & 4. But in this course no Green manure is introduced, except plowing in Clover is so considered; and the quality of the Clover on much reduced Land is to be questioned—& the practice of sowing on it as has been observed in some of the other numbers not much used, nor the advantages of it well ascertained—Besides there is the expence of Clover Seed for 150 Acres every year to be encountered.

Rotation No. 6 same Farm.
No. of
the Fields
1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799
3 Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B: Wheat
for Manure
Wheat &
the Stubble
Plowed in
B. Wh
½Crop &
½ Mane
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
4 B. Wheat
for Manure
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat &
the Stubble
Plowed in
B. Wh.
½ Crop &
½ Mane
Wheat
5 Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat &
the Stubble
Plowed in
B. Wh.
½ Crop
½ Mane
6 B. Wh.
½ Crop
½ Mane
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat &
the Stubble
Plowed in
7 Wheat &
the Stubble
Plowed in
B. Wh.
½ Crop
½ Mane
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Corn & Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
1 B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat &
the stubble
Plowed in
B. Wh.
½ Crop
½ Mane
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Corn &
Potatoes
Wheat
2 Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Wheat &
the stubble
Plowed in
B. Wh.
½ Crop
½ Mane
Wheat B. Wheat
for Manure
Corn &
Potatoes
Plowings &ca &ca for the above Crops
   Acrs.    Fall Winr Mar. Aprl May June July Aug. Sep. Total
No. 3 75 of Corn & Potatoes      100   60   10   70   70   70   75 455
4 75 B: Wheat for Mane
breaking up 100 100
2d Plowing 100 100
5 75 Wheat single Plowg 100 100
6 75 B. Wheat for Mane &ca
breaking up 100 100
2 plowing   50   50 100
1 75 B. Wht for Mane
breaking up 100 100
2d Plowing 1st of June 100 100
2 75 Wheat Corn grd
7 75 Ditto on B. Wht
1st plowg in B. Wh. 100 100
2 Plowing in Wht 100 100
   200 100 160 110 120 170 220 175 100 1355
Probable Yield
   Acrs.   
No. 3 75  in Corn a 12½ 937½  Bushls a 2/6   £117.3.9
 Same in Potatoes    12½ 937½    1/     46.17.6
5 } 225  Wheat    10 2250      5/   562.10.
7
2
4 }
1 150  B. Wheat Man.
6 75  ½ Mane 37½ Crop    12 450      1/8     37.10.0
   525    4575        764.1.3

The above is the 2d most productive Rotation; but the fields receive no rest, being every year under the Plow, nor in this course is there any field in grass or pasture: and besides, the qty of Plowing exceeds any of the other Rotations by 280 days & most of them considerably more. The advantage it has over any of the others is, the frequent dressings with Green manure. Plowing one of the Wheat fields immediately after Harvest will by means of the Wheat Stubble also help the Land, and afford Green food for Ewes & Lambs, Calves & Mules during the Winter & Spring.

Note,

No mention is made of Harrowing in any of the foregoing Rotations; because, except in the Indian Corn, it may be done principally, if not wholly by Oxen.

The plowing is calculated at ¾ of an Acre pr day.2 If then, one Plow will go over a 75 Acre field in 100 days—five plows will do it in 20 days. In some ground, in the State of it—and according to the Seasons, an Acre at least ought to be plowed pr day by each Team; but ¾ of an Acre is calculated upon in order to reduce it to more certainty.

The fields are all estimated at 75 Acs. each (although they run a little more or less) for the sake of more easy calculation of the Crops & to shew their comparative yield.

AD, DLC:GW. Since this document discusses alternative future crop rotations, it probably was written before the spring planting season of 1793. For an earlier example of GW’s consideration of alternative rotations, see the comparison of GW’s and Anthony Whitting’s rotations for an unspecified farm for the years 1790 to 1796 (DLC:GW, filed at the end of 1794).

1GW apparently added the “Total” column, which omits 100 days for the first plowing of buckwheat manure. Had he added the total row, which included that plowing, he would have reached the correct number of 1,055.

2At this point GW wrote and struck out, “with allowance for Sundays but none for bad weather.”

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