The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-03-28
Garden Crops on the Farm.

The farmer who continues to raise
the same crops that he grew before
towns and manufacturing villages
sprang up all around him, makes a
great mistake. In the older states. at
least, there are but few farms not
within an hours or two hours ride
OF a market. 1t IS worth while for
farmers IN such localities, to consider
if they can afford to raise field corn.
when sweet corn will pay them much
better. 1t is true, that sweet corn
needs high manuring, but when the
ears are off, there will be a heavy crop
OF the very best fodder. The ears will
bring IN ready money, Just how much
will depend upon the market, but safe
to say, more than any crop Of ripe
corn would be worth. 1t is a mistake
to grow late potatoes, to be dug when
every one else has potatoes, and
prices are low, while early potatoes
will bring several times the price of
late ones. 1t is so with other crops.
There are but few garden vegetables
that may not be grown as farm crops,
and it IS q mistake to raise produce
that will bear transportation from
distance instead OF that suited to a
near market, and must be disposed of
at once \ farmer, on the other hand,
would make a mistake, were he to de
vote his land to a new set of crops at
once. He should determine to grow
those things that pay the best, and
to gradually work into a more profit
able kind OF farming. Those who pro-
pose to do this, will find sweet corn
and potatoes excellent crops to begin
with. Others will pay better, but
these are best to prepare the land for
other and more profitable crops. 1t
would have been better had the land
been prepared for these last fall but
as this was not done, make it ready
as soon as 1t is safe to work it. 1t is
not our object Just now to give direc-
lions for growing the crops, but rather
to suggest what may be cultivated.
Wherever there are manufacturing
villages, early cabbages are always in
demand, and bring good prices.
Spinach IS another salable vegetable.
Beets, parsnips, carrots, turnips, on
ions, etc, as well as spinach may be
sOwn in rows far enough apart, to be
worked by horse implements The
diHlillGt DtlNttI Jllt rows Is 10 Dt
governed by the width ofthe horseshoe
or cultivator, which should close up as
narrow as twenty inches A market
gardener sows such crops twelve or
fifteen inches apart, but the farm
gardener has cheaper land, and can
give more space il he can save labor,
and substitute horses for hand. Those
who propose to undertake farm
gardening, will do well to begin with
sweet corn and early potatoes, and
not undertake other garden-crops
until the land has been in cultivation
with these for one season. Another
way to prepare the land for garden
crops is to pillow, harrow, and SOW it
to buckwheat. When this is in flower,
pillow it under, and SOW it again to
buckwheat. Turn this under at the
proper time, and in September, or at
the usual time, SOW the land with rye,
to be plOwed-in next spring. The OBJ
ject should be to bring the land, a few
acres at time, into condition to raise
any garden-crops. The rapidity with
which this can be done will depend
upon the amount OF manure at com
mand for thepurpose. 1t will bewOrth
while for all farmers, who are within
reach OF a market, TO give this subject
proper thought and be ready to com
mence the coming spring to make a
Observation-Disclosures AgricultUrist.