Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-04-17
PRESS BULLETIN NO "a
GROWING Of VEGETABLES Rec
ommended--haS an Ex-
ce1lent Market

ommended--Has an Ex-
cellent Market
The growing of vegetables may be
recommended in Northeastern Mime
sofa on a commercial scale as well as
for the homo 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 dis
tricts, but for the farmers not
tributary there is difficulty in securing
it. It is supplied largely by wholesale
shippers from other districts: This
market rightfully belongs to the
farmers of Northeastern Minnesota
and it may be obtained by co.opera-
ton among the farmers, and it IS only
in this way that it can be. Wholesale
dealers want vegetables III carload
lots, and vegetables of uniform
grade and quality.
Where community Of farmers
would make vegetable growing an
issue, and aim for uniformity, and CO.
operate in shipping. they could COM
mand 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 protection 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
~ 1-4). With these few exceptions
the growing of vegetables has been
exceedingly satisfactory.
Vegetables do best ON q 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 pl0wed 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. 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 he
found more satisfactory to plant
everything in rows than in old
fashioned way of beds, and the rows
far enough apart to permit OF horse
cultivation. The garden ne s
frequent cultivation, not only to keep
it free from weeds but to retain the
soil moisture. More can he done with
a horse cultlvater 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 expensive
Questions are frequently referred to
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 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. \ 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 appears
in every spring catalog only in an
experimental way, if at all.
With some vegetables it is we'll to
discriminate in early and late
varieties. 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 winter use, and late
shipping.
In planting, tomatoes. celery, early
cabbage, and caulifower should he
started in this way, but it may be
sown directly in the garden, very good
results having been obtained through
this system on the Experiment Farm.
The vegetables that command the
best market in the fall for shipping
are cabbage, carrots, beets. turnips
and rutabagas. For the summer and
early fall market, onions. peas radish
lettuce and cucumbers These are the
most staple products and safest to
grow in commercial way.
The successful sale of vegetables
depend largely upon their quality,
appearance and the way they are put
up. Size alone does not indicate
quality or make a product a good
seller. Smoothness, uniformity and
freeness from dirt and bruises in
handling are quite as important as
size. A great deal may be learned
about vegetables at an agricultural
exhibit, by observing the vegetables
that take prizes, when a competent
judge is in charge
For more detailed information on
gardening write L. S. Department. of
Agriculture, Washington, D. c., for
Farmers Bulletin No. 81. It is free.
A. J. MCGUIRE.
Supt Experiment Station.
Grand Rapids, Mimi