Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-03-27
Artiehokes for Stock Food.

Artichokes for Stock Food.
A few years ago | planted for the
first tims peek OF improved white
French artichokes. merely as an expert.
ment From this peck cf seed / raised
about 100 bushels Of fine tubers. Part
o. these fed 10 hogs, which fattened
readily upon them. Before butehering,
however, the hogs were fed few bush
els OF corn as a finishing feed. The
hogs were thus got ready for market At
very small cost. The following year
/ raised 200 bushels Of tubers, which
were fed as before, with equally satisfae-
tory results. In addition TO feeding
them 10 hogs, | also gave some to colts.
Ia short time found that the artichoke
was an excellent feed for horses. Mich
cows ate them readily and and the flow
Of milk was largely increased. The re-
suis the first two years was so favorable
that ! have grown them each season
since Last year raised nearly 500 |
bushels. About half CT the crop was
dug and Is now buried. The rest ! left
In the ground for spring planting and
feeding. As yet no insect, blight or
rust has affected the plant, and dry
weather seems but slightly detrimental
to its development. l believe the arti-
choke has come to stay. During the
past five years drouth has been frequent
In this state, but my artichoke crop has
st.II aI 4aI 80 hRaL.Ia |
acre during that time.
The best soil for artichokes ia low !
ground, which Is OF little value as
corn field because Of late frosts. Land, ,
therefore, which has hitherto been
worthless except for hay may be utilized
for growing artichokes. as frost does not ;
surt them. Prepare the seeds the same /
potatoes, cutting to one eye, and plant s
"a rows three feet apart and eighteen G
inches apar, In the rows. Cultivate az ,
ticorn. The methods OF harvesting (
are varied. They can be dug late In the 8
fall and placed In a COOL dark cellar or y
buried, or they may beleft in the ground h
al winter. A good plan Is TO turn the Il
hogs Into the field and let them do their =
own digging. They will live and be in
he best possible condition, and not need q
! pound of grain feed. II the ground lie u
iot frozen they will root out all winter, II
intil The tubers become soft In May or
une. II
The tops look something like the COM o
non sunhower, and grow about six feet a.
Ugh. IL cut while green good fodder q
: obtained, ~hich horses eat about as ie
veil a. hay This feed was thoroughly | Sc
ested the present season because OF the &c
earcity of hay. Thousands of acres of
ops were harvested and fed. II Is stated sc
hat the fattening qualities of artiohokes OF
re about the same as those of potatoes.
iany people are afraid to plant arti- -
hokes because they think II impossible ,,
} get rid.of them after once obtaining a W.
'othold In the soil. This Is a false Idea. VI
he artiehoke, Ike the potatoe, grows u
ON the eye. OF course II Is imposs- sn
e to dig every one. A tuber left In the
'ound viii sprout and grow the next ~
ring. All do to get rid of them Is to VII
How the artiehokes with any other cui- are
'ased crop, and see that none of the
ants mature or turn the whole field TOO
ieer when the artichokes are foot ear
gh The old tubers are decayed BY
Is time, and the new ones are not sui. ,
iently matured to grow.