The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-07-28
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The ArtiehOke Field.


From the Farmers Review: But
a few years ago great claims
were made in favor Of the artichoke.
especially as food for swine. In fact,
many OF these claims seem to be 50
exaggerated that many farmers have
lost faith entirely in the merits Of
this tuber crop. Their real value Is
no doubt underestimate by the gen
erai public. One important factor in
its favor is its ability to remain in
the soil all winter and still retain It's
terminating power. It also has a Eon-
oerful habit Of surmounting all difi-
culties and growing against ali oppO-
sitiOn- This Characteristic Of the plant
enables the farmer to grow artiehokes
from year to year on the same ground
with little or no outlay for making
a seed bed or cuItiyating the crop
Also If this tendency is well under
stood there is little need Of the farm
er letting this plant become a weed
pest in his garden, lawn OF cultivated
field 1t is well then TO consider the
location for the artichoke field. II in
the near future the land is intended
for garden or for a hoed crop Of
any kind il should not be planted to
artichokes, for once in the ground
they become q YeritabIe weed pest and
continue SO for years to come. They
must be planted where stock can be
pastured If so desired to kill them
on The tops are greedily eaten by
cattle ard horses, and if allowed to
bite them for a summer or two they
die out
Il the aruchoke patch can be plant
ed in or near feed lot, away from
cultivated land OF the garden and
where it can be used for pasturing
hogs for several years. the artiehoke
crop can be very cheapIy grown after
the first planting and prove indeed a
very profitable crop
Keep IN mind. however. that they
are rot rich food; they do not, in pro
portion TO bulk, contain large amounts
OF the elements. protein, carbohydrates
and fat All are in dilute form Water
is the principal constituent of the raw
artichoke, and the protein element is,
indeed, quite Insignificant
1t belongs to that class OF farm
products that IS worth more for feed
ing than its chemical analysis shows.
Pumpkins. beets. turnips. cabbage.
rape and sorghum cane are also mem
bers OF this class
Every feeder knows that cattle.
hogs and sheep VIII gain much faster
when fed on grass or clover. The
same is true, if pumpkins are fed with
the corn ration In the winter during
many dry days the hogs can not get
anything green. the pumpkins are
gone Wnen fed corn alone, they be
come sluggish and oftentimes so
fevered that they eat lightly Of the
corn ration resulting in very slow
growing Here is where the artfchOke
held can play a strong hand. When
the ground is not frozen, If the hogs
are turned into il, they get exercise
harvesting the tubers and the effect
OF eating the roots is to cool the SIS
TEN improve digestion and assimiIa-
ton The animal eats more grain
and makes q greater per cent OF gain
for grain consumed.
The first planting Of artichokes is
very much Ike planting potatoes. The
tubers are cut so as to have a germi-
mating ere for every piece They are
then planted in rows lust as potatoes
are planted and cultivated during their
early growth The next season the
rubers viii permeate the entire soil
and the plants viii grow thick, promis-
cuously over the area II they are 10
be cultivated in after years space
must be cut out, and the standing
plants made il a row together as in
the first year If heavily pastured
the hogs win do the breaking. and
then BY attaching gopher knives to the
eultiyator shanks it is comparatively
easy to arrange rows for cultivation.
Try patch where you can pasture
them If not satisfactory. Remember
TO keep them entirely away from the
garden. lawn or cultivated feIds.-W.
B. Anderson.