Kensington in Prince County, Prince Edward Island — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)
The Seven Year Rotation
La rotation de sept ans
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019
1. The Seven Year Rotation Marker
Farmers have almost always practiced crop rotation to preserve the soil. Potatoes absorb more nutrients than crops such as hay or grain. To prevent the land from becoming depleted, the farmer rotates the crop making certain that the demanding ones are not grown on the same parcel of land for several years running. This conserves soil nutrients and is an effective means of combating weeds.
When mixed farming was common, farmers used the “seven-year rotation” — which could last from four to eight years. A year of potatoes would be followed by a year of grain, a clover crop, and two years as hay and one to two years as pasture. Then a root crop — such as potatoes or turnips — would be planted in the field again.
As farms expanded in the twentieth century, crop rotations became reduced as it was harder for farmers who specialize solely in potatoes to leave a field fallow for several years between plantings. These days most use a three year cycle of crop rotation.
Les agriculteurs ont presque toujours pratiqué la rotation des cultures
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Lorsque l'exploitation agricole mixte était répandue, les agriculteurs avaient recours à la « rotation de sept ans », qui pouvait durer de quatre à huit ans. Une année de pommes de terre était suivie par une année de grains, une semence de trèfle, et deux ans d'ensemencement de foin et de un à deux ans de pâturage. Puis, un légume racine comme la pomme de terre ou le navet était de nouveau planté dans les champs.
Au-fur et à mesure que les exploitations agricoles prenaient de l'expansion au vingtième siècle, les rotations des cultures allaient diminuant, car il était plus difficile pour les agriculteurs qui se spécialisaient uniquement dans la culture des pommes de terre de laisser un champ en jachère pendant plusieurs années entre les plantations. De nos jours, les agriculteurs ont recours pour la plupart à un cycle de trois ans pour la rotation des cultures.
Erected by Town
Courtesy PEI Museum and The Island Magazine
2. Marker detail: Horse-and-wagon Hay Farming
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture.
Location. 46° 26.181′ N, 63° 38.465′ W. Marker is in Kensington, Prince Edward Island, in Prince County. Marker can be reached from Imperial Street just north of Commercial Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located along the Confederation Trail, about 1 block west of the former Kensington Railroad Depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 29 Commercial Street, Kensington PE C0B 1M0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A World Leader in Silver Foxes (a few steps from this marker); Original Meaning of Horsepower (a few steps from this marker); The Early Days of Farm Equipment (a few steps from this marker); A Woman's Work is Never Done (within shouting distance of this marker); Farming Groups in Kensington (within shouting distance of this marker); Potato Farming Between the Tree Stumps (within shouting distance of this marker); Business and Agriculture (within shouting distance of this marker); The Efficiency of Mixed Farming (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kensington.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Prince Edward Island Agriculture
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019
3. The Seven Year Rotation Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 630 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 17, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
