The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-04-01
Artichokes.

NJ one WHO mas even dozen hogs
can afford to do without artichokes.
The crop is one which can be grown
almost anywhere. costs but little for
cultivation, and will make a heavier
yield Of good food than will any other
crop which can be grown. The best
soil for them is rich, sandy loan, and
1t should be dry rather than wet. II
such soil is not available then
plant on almost any soil excepting on
wet clay which is subject to overflow
Aitichokes bear long drouths without
injury, but die when the young plants
are covered with water, even "A few
days. and do not make satisfactory
yield when the soil is constantly wet.
The ground should be prepared by
blowing broadcast, and the rows should
De laid off four feet apart with six
inca turning pillow. There are at least
three varieties named by seedmen, the
Jerusalem" White French" and
Red French" but there is practically
no difference between them excepting
in color. One is as good as the other.
and the one which is best for planting
Is the one which can be obtained most
conveniently. The seed usually sell
for 81 per bushel. The tubes are about
as large as potatoes, and may be cut
equally small, so about the same
amount of seed, from five to eight
bushels, will be required per acre.
Drop the pieces from sixteen to twenty
four inches apart in the rows and cover
with the pillow. The greater distance
should be given on the richer soil.
The cultivation should be the same as
that of corn, except that no boeing
Will be needed, and the crop can be
laid by ut about the same time as corn.
The plants grow vigorously through
the summer, but the tubes do not be-
come thoroughly matured until Decem.
Der. The yield depends very much on
the soil when the crop is planted, but
| with fair treatment will seldom be less
han 200 bushels per acre, while double
that amount Is not uncommon. When
the cropis wanted for use, which should
not be before the first of January, a
small section may be fenced off for
sowing seed. or a few rows may be
planted, and the seed gathered and
stored like Irish potatoes. AS the
tubes keep better in the soil where
they grew than they will In any other
place, ii is better to fence off a few
rows than TO dig and store. III hogs
are then turned into the rest of the
field they will do the harvesting and
fatten rapidly. Artichokes are not "a
perfect food for hogs, and corn should
be fed at the same time but they are
worth fully as much as potatoes, and
two bushels OF artichOkes with one
bushel of corn will give more growth
and healthier animals than two bushels
OF corn alone. They are ready for use
at the time when it is almost impossi.
ole TO secures other fresh feed. and if
the supply is sufficient they will last
in good condition until April.
When managed in this way almost
nothing is removed from the field. and
several successive crops max be grown
in the same field. Although the hogs
will leave quite a supply of the roots in
the ground, 1t does not pay to depend
on volunteer growth for the next
crop. as the stand will be irregular and
the field can not be cultivated. When
a second crop is TO be grown on the
same ground the field should always be
plowed and planted as mt first.
Many hesitate to plant artichokes
for fear they will never be able to clear
the ground, and that the crop will de-
generate into troublesome weed.
There is not the slightest danger of
this. as artichokes can be killed by
single blowing IN July or August. after
al NsKI.
and before the new ones have formed.