The Grit-advocate., 1903-06-19

:.
AGRfCUETURf
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 Ia
Its favor is its ability to remain II.
the soil all winter and still retain its
terminating power. 1t also has won
derful habit of surmounting all diff
culties and growing against all oppo-
sition. This characteristic of the plant
enables the farmer to grow artichokes
from year to year op the same ground
with little or no outlay for making
a seed bed or cultivating the crop.
Also if this tendency is well under
stood there is little need Of the farm
er letting this plant become weed
pest in his garden, lawn or cultivated
held. 1t is well then to consider the
location for the artichoke field. IT,
the near future the land is intendeu
for garden or for a hoed crop of
any kind 1t should not be planted to
artichokes, 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
. off. 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 a feed lot, away from
cultivated land or the garden aid
where 1t can be used for pasturirg
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
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 IN eIn.
bers of this class
Every feeder knows that cattle,
hogs and sheep will gain much faster
when fed on grass or clover. Tic
same is true. If pumpkins are fed with
the corn ration In the winter du u
many dry days the hogs car not &c,
aH, thing green, the pumpkins ac4
gone. When fed corn alone, they Is.
come sluggish and oftentimes ~
fevered that they eat lightly of the
corn ration resulting in very slow
growing. Here is where the artichoke
field can play 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-
TEN improve digestion and assimila-
tion. The animal eats more grain
and makes 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 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 tie
tubers will permeate the entire so;l
and the plants will grow thick, promls.
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 a patch where you can pasture
them If not satisfactory Remember
to keep them entirely away fromNhe
garden, lawn or cultivated fields.AW
B. Anderson.