The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-04-24
POTATOES AND VEGETABLES
Some Valuable Information for the Truck
Farmer===Facts Beneficial

1ation of air, and provide for good
ventilation through the roof. Dry,
cool air is necessary, The cooler
the cellar can be kept without
freezing the better. A thermome-
ter hung in the root cellar is of adj
vantage. AS yet there are not
sufficient potatoes grown in north
eastern Minnesota to supply the
home market. Hundreds of car
loads are shipped into Duluth and
Superior and the mining towns
from other sections. The growing
of potatoes to supply this home
market may be developed to advan-
tage of all. Farmers should CO.
operate, grow uniform grade of
potatoes, and aim to put only a
high grade of potatoes on the mar
ket. Keep the small potatoes at
home. AS good potatoes can be
grown i'll northeastern Minnesota
as anywhere in the country, and it
should at least supply it's own
market.
The growing of vegetables may
be recommended in northeastern
Minnesota on a commercial scale
as well as for the home garden.
The yield and quality of vegetables
grown in this section of the state
can hardly be surpassed. There is
also an extensive market in the
cities at the head Ct Lake Superior
and the mining districts, but for
the farmers not tributary there is
difficulty in securing it. 1t is sup
piled largely by wholesale shippers
from other districts. This market
rightfully belongs to the farmers of
northeastern Minnesota and it may
be obtained by cooperation among
the farmers, and it is only in this
way that it can be. Wholesale
dealers want vegetables in carload
lots, and vegetables of a uniform
grade and quality. Where COM
of farmers would make
vegetable growing an issue, and
aim for uniformifv ard cooperate
in shipping, they could command a |
market for all they grow. For the
farmer with only few acres under
cultivation, vegetables, when they |
can be marketed, is the most pro-
6table crop that can be grown.
On the Experiment farm all the
common garden vegetables have
been grown successfully with the
exception of melons. Tomatoes
and cucumbers have generally re-
quired a little extra care in the way
of protection against late and early |
frosts to insure their maturity, and |
also the navy bean which is some
what uncertain in ripening at this
degree of latitude (47 14). With |
these few exceptions the growing
of vegetables has been exceedingly |
satisfactory. Vegetables do best
on a sandy loan soil, and the
richer the soil in fertility and hu-
mus the better. A heavy app1ica-
ton of stable manure every year is
to the best growth of most
The ground should be
and plowed in the fall, as
fall blowing not only gives the best
results in growth, but it also kills
many destructive insects that live
in the soil during the winter. 1t
should not be narrowed till spring,
but the earlier in tfIe spring the
better, which will help to retain
the moisture and kill weed seeds.
In laying out the garden it will be
found more satisfactory to plant
everything in rows than in the old
fashioned way of beds, and the
rows far enough apart to permit of
horse cultivation. The garden
needs frequent cultivation, not only
to keep it free from weeds but to
retain the soil moisture. More can
be done with a horse cultivator in
an hour than all day with the hoe.
The cultivator does not dispense
with the hoe, but it greatly lessons
hand work which is much more ex-
pensive. Questions are frequently
to the Experiment station
regarding the best varieties of the
different vegetables for this section,
and also the seed firm that handles
the best grade of seed. Both these
questions can be answered. only i'll
a general way. There are many
of most vegetables that do
well, and there are also
several seed firms that handle prac-
tically the, same grade of seed. A
safe rule for the beginner is to use
the well known varieties that have
been on the market for several
years, and the new stock that APP
pears in every spring catalog only
in an experimental way, if at all.
With some vegetables it is well to
discriminate in early and late vari-
cites. In tomatoes, cucumbers,
beans, squash and pumpkins early
varieties should be grown, while
with cabbage early varieties to the
extent of what will be used when
mature, and late varieties for win
ter use and late shipping. In plant