Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-03-25
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 market. It is worth while for
farmers in such localities, to consider
If they can afford to raise field corn,
when sweet corn will pay tnem much
better. It is true, that sweet corn
needs high manuring, but when the
ears are off, there will be g. heavy crop
of the very best fodder. The ears will
bring in ready money, just how much
will depend upon the market, out safe
to say, more than any crop of ripe
corn would be worth. It is 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. It is so with other crops.
There are but few garden vegetables
that may not be grown as farm crops,
and it is a mistake TO raise produce
that will bear transportation from a
distance, instead of that suited to a
near market, and must be disposed OF
at once. A farmer, on the other hand,
would make 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 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 it is safe to- work it. It is
not our object just nov to give direc-
tions for growing the crops, but rather
to suggest what may be cultivated.
Wherever there are manufacturing
villages, early cabbagts are always in
demand, and bring good prices
Spinach is another s}lable vegetable.
Beets, parsnips, carrots, turnips, on
ions, etc., as we'll as spinach may be
sown in rows far enc ugh apart, to be
worked by horse Implements. The
distance between tt e rows is to be
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 If lie can save labor,
and substitute horse, for hand. Those
who propose to undertake farm
gardening, will do W ll to begin with
sweet corn and eatly potatoes, and
not undertake OF her garden-crops
until the land has been in cultivation
with these for one season. Another
way to prepare tie land for garden
crops is to pillow, h arrow, and SOW it
to buckwheat. WI en- this is in flower,
pillow it under, al d SOW it again to
buckwheat. Turn this under at the
proper time, and IN September, or at
the usual time, soy the land with rye,
to be plowed-in nj xt spring. The OBJ
ject should be to bring the land, g. few
acres at time, in 10 condition to raise
any garden-crops. The rapidity with
which this can be done will depend
upon the amouh bit OF manure at COM
mand for the pur pose. twill be worth
while for all farmers, who are within
reach OF mark t, to give this subject
proper thought and be ready to COM
mence the coming spring to make a
farm garden.-IAm erican Agricu7turist.