Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-11-09
: =
ARTIChOkES, FOR HOGS.
How to Grow the Tubers to tho Bexu
Advantage.

Advantage.
1t has become proverb;al with many
farmers, and especially those of the
eastern states, to regard the artichoke
with suspicion and aversion. Nor is this
fear entirely unfounded. The fact is,
when once they obtain foothold, arti-
chokes have a wonderful tenacity for
their possessions. In
deed, almost nothing will eNterminate
them, unless it be herd of swine Take
a good, healthy, resolute porker, and
king artiehoke has got to succumb;
and the more the hog canget of them to
contented it becomes, as rule. Accord
ingly, every farmer who raises more or
less pork, ought to make provisions for
supplying his swine with artichokes.
They are grown much the same as
potatoes and can be planted any time up
to the middle of June. From four to
six bushels of seed per acre are recon-
nended by different growers. The
tubers may be cut small. like potatoes,
and they should be planted from Is to
Is inches apart in the rows, which ought
to be 31s feet apart To do the work
properly. the ground should be
thoroughly titled and all weeds de-
stroyed. As the roots spread widely, at
the end of the season. without the cult
the ground. BY this mode of cultiva-
ton. yields of 1000 and 1000 bushels
per acre are often obtained. and, while
the crop is not near so costly as that of
potatoes, the tubers are nearly equal in
nutritive value to potatoes, and much
more valuable for feeding to stock, hogs
in particular.
The planting should be done similar
IT, that of potatoes, only not so deep,
two inches OF earth being sufficient, as
a rule for covering. Harrow them until
a foot high and then cultivate like corn.
wLereon if the ground was in the first
place well fitted, it will soon be covered
by such strong growth of stock as
effectually to choke out all the weeds.
The leaves and stalks are rather rough
to be sure. but stock are fond of them,
nevertheless, and will greedily eat the
tops to the ground if allowed to get to
them.
The best way is to turn hogs into the
patch after the tubers have matured,
which will not be until late in the sea-
sen. and allow them to do their own
digging. Fed in this way, with the
tops left on the ground. and with them
the droppings OF the hogs, the crop can
not fail to improve the land. Still, no
one is ever ready to indorse this plant,
and therefore it has to exist as it can
catch it, with its praises sounded as
little as possible.
Properly speaking, artichokes should
be grown Oh land that may be set aside
fer all time. With pigs enough, there
will be great difficulty then in control
ling its growth. If you have only a few
pigs. however. plant artichokes in pro-
portion Nismanagement and no calcu-
l:,tion at all, remember are things Ugh
IL instrumental to many OF the ills OF
this world.
Freezing does not injure artichokes
in the least. either for food or seed
Therefore. if SO desired, they can be left
in the ground until spring. and then
fed to the hogs. which, if taken out in
time. will usually leave enough of the
tubers IN the soil to reseed it. Some pre-
fer. however, to let the hogs clean out
the patch thoroughly and replant in
hills and drills, rather than let volun-
teer crop come up. But many are afraid
tc plant them at all. in that they be-
lieve that if they once get into the land
they cannot be eradicated. Were it no.
for the hog. this might be true. AS it is,
though, no such fears need to be ha--
bored.
There are quite variety of artichokes,
and still greater variety of opinions in
regard to which is the best Among
those who have experimental with the
different kinds. some consider the Red
Brazilian ahead of all the others, viz,
Mammoth, White French aud the Jeru-
salem. the last of which is an old and
well-known variety. The Red Brazilian
has not been grown in America quar-
ter of a century yet, but in that time it
has gained host of friends, simply be-
cause its roots do not spread near SO
much as those of some of the other
varieties.-Teb Harke, in Albany n.
" Journal.
Roads In Prairie States.