= Four course rotation =

The four course rotation is the ecologically sound system of husbandry used in
[[high_farming]]. It is a form of crop rotation

1) one year [[ley]]
   - grow for one year
   - let livestock graze from it
   - allows for nitrogen to build in the soil
2) root break
   - plant,
     - turnips
     - swedes
     - potatoes
     - mangold
     - kale
   - these increase soil fertility
   - apply nearly all manure to this field
   - called cleaning crops, as land must be hoed several times to plant in rows
   - Also creates the crops to be eaten during the winter for feeding livestock
3) Winter cereal break
   - plant,
     - wheat
     - beans
     - barley
     - oats
     - rye
   - All these crops are sown in autumn
   - this is the primary "cash crop" or "staple food"
4) Spring cereal break
   - Spring sown wheat or barley
   - Undersow ley after placing the wheat and barley seed
   - used crop for beer, feeding livestock, and making manure

Historically this method created 2 tons of wheat to the acre