Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-06-18
The Artichoke Field.

| FROM the Farmers Review: But
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 SO
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.
eral public. One important factor in
It's favor Is it's ability to remain In
the soil all winter and still retain its
terminating power. 1t also has won.
derful habit Of surrounding all diff
culties and growing against all oppo-
sltlon. This characteristic of the plant
enables the farmer to grow artichokes
from year to year on the same ground
with little or no outlay for making
a seed bed or cultivating the crop.
Also ii 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 or cultivated
held. 1t is well then to consider the
location for the artichoke field. If in
the near future the land is intended
Tor garden or for a hoed crop of
any kind 1t should not be planted to
artlchokes, for once in the ground
they become veritable 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 and horses, and if allowed to
bite them for a summer or two they
die out
II the artlchoke patch can be plant.
ed in or near feed lot, away from
cultivated land or the garden and
where it can be used for pasturing
hogs for several years, the artichoke
crop can be very cheaply grown after
the first planting and prove indeed
very profitable crop.
Keep in mind, however, that they
are not 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
artlchoke, and the protein element is,
indeed quite Insignificant
1t belongs to that class of farm
products that is worth more for feed
ing than it's 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 will 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 artichoke
field can play a strong hand. When
the ground is not frozen, if the hogs
are turned into it, they get exercise
harvesting the tubers and the effect
OF eating the roots is to cool the sys-
tenn improve digestion and assimila-
ton. The animal eats more grain
and makes a greater per cent of gain
for grain consumed.
The first planting Of artichokes is
very much like planting potatoes. The
tubers are cut so as to have a germi-
mating eye for every piece. They are
then planted in rows just as potatoes
are planted and cultivated during their
early growth. The next season the
tubers will permeate the entire soil
and the plants will grow thick, promis-
cuously over the area. If they are to
be cultivated in after years space
must be cut out, and the standing
plants made il row together as in
the first year. If heavily pastured
the hogs will do the breaking, and
then by attaching gopher knives to the
cultivator 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 fields.-W.
B. anderson.