The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-10
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
ON SPRING GARDENING
Supt. A. J. Mcclure of Grand Rapids,
Writes Interesting Article on How
to Raise Vegetables.

l ne growing OF vegetables may
be recommended in Northeastern
Minnesota on commercial scale as
we'll 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 of Lake Superior
and the mining distrirts, 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
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 a community of farmers
would make vegetable growing an
issue, and aim for uniformity, and
cooperate in shipping, they could
command market for all they could
grow.
For the farmer with only few
acres under cultivation, vegetables,
when they can be marketed, is the
most profitable 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 required a
little extra care in the way of pro-
lection against late and early frosts
to insure their maturity, and also
the navy bean, which is somewhat
uncertain in ripening at this degree
of latitude (47A), With these
few exceptions the growing of vege-
tables has been exceedingly salts
factory.
Vegetables do best on a sandy
loan soil, and the richer the soil in
fertility and humus the better. A
heavy application of stable manure
every year is essential to the best
growth of most vegetables. The
ground should be MANFRED and
plowed in the fall, as fall blowing
not only gives the best results in
growth, but it also kills many de-
structive insects that live in the soil
during the winter. It should not
be narrowed till spring, but the
earlier in the 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 the old
fashioned way of beds, and rows far
enough apart to permit of horse
cultivation. The garden needs fire.
quent cultivation, not only to keep
it free from weeds but to retain the
soil moisture. More can be done
with horse cultivator in an hour,
than all day with the hoe. The
The cultivator does not dispense
with the hoe, but it greatly lessons
hand work which is more expensive.
Questions are frequently referred
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 in a general
way. There are many varieties of
most vegetables that do equally well
and there are also several seed firms
that handle practically the same
grade of seed. A safe rule for the
beginner is to use the we'll known
varieties that have been on the
market for several years, and the
new stock that appears in every
spring catalog only in an expert
mental way, if at all.
With some vegetables it is well tc
discriminate in early and late varie
ties. In tomatoes, cucumber, 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 winter use, and late
shipping. -.
In planting, tomatoes, celery, early
cabbage and caulihower, should be