The Brinkley argus., 1916-05-05
ORCHARD AND GARDEN CROPS
No. 6. Orchard and Garden Crops. By J. s. Knox, Extension Horticultur.
 ist, University of Arkansas.

! No. 6. Orchard and Garden Crops.
 By J. s. Knox, Extension Horticultur- 1st, University of Arkansas.
 Plan of Garden.-Few of us realize the importance of some definite plan l to follow in our garden work. We plant the garden in haphazard fash ion, without any reference to the kind of plants, time they are to oc- cupy the soil, and the space they re-
 quire in growing. Gardens that are
 planted in the above way can never give as good results or as much l pleasure as the ones that are carefully planned before the planting season
 comes on, and then carrying out the
 plans made. There is generally a time during the winter when the av- craze farmer is doing very little, and this is the proper time to make plan for the garden that is to be planted during the spring and summer.
 Arrangement of Plants.-The plants should be arranged in the garden ac- cording to the length of time they are to occupy the soil, as well as accord ing to the kind of culture they re- quire. Plants like asparagus, rhubarb and the various kinds of berries gen. erally occupy the soil for number of years, and for this reason they should be placed to one side (prefer- ably the north) of the garden. They are then out of the way In cultivating the annual plants which are not such high growers generally. After the 1 been cared for, we may begin the planting of the short season crops as soon as the season opens. Plants like beets, radishes, lettuce, peas, cab
 bage, etc., can be planted very early In the season, and as soon as danger of frost is past we can plant the ten | der vegetables, such as tomatoes, egg plant, peppers, sweet corn, squashes,
 cucumbers, etc.
 Companion Cropping. - Sometimes, especially where the space is limited, | It is desired to get as many different kinds of vegetables as possible from | that small area. In this case we may l make use of what the gardeners see fit to call companion cropping. It consists in growing two or more crops in the same row at the same time or of planting other vegetables in be- tween the other rows For example, If we have cabbage planted in rows
 three feet apart and eighteen inches apart in the row, we may put hill of lettuce between each hill of cabbage and then SOW row of radishes or tur- nips between the row. These crops could be removed before a great deal of damage had been done to the cab bage, and in this way we have three kinds of vegetables where only one is commonly grown This, however, Is very hard or exhaustive on the soil, and so heavy fertilizing is essential. Succession Cropping. - Here Is
 where 50 many of our gardeners fall down on the gardening business ev- cry year. If we expect to have fresh vegetables all through the summer we must make different plantings of the same vegetable. For example, we plant a crop of beans in latter April
 and these begin to bear in June, and probably last for three weeks or a month and then ali is over; but if we
 make one planting in latter April and another about three weeks later, and so on through the growing season, we
 can have beans for several months that have been picked from the vines
 in our own garden. With some of the early maturing vegetables we can grow one crop and harvest it and then grow a second crop on the same soil
 but this method is not to be recom'
 mended If 1t can be avoided. because
 of the increased chance of the last
 crop being attacked by disease and in sects more severely.
 Use of Hot Beds-The farmer who desires to grow his own plants should construct a hot bed similar to the one
 described in Farmers Bulletin 255
 The hot bed is especially useful in starting plants like cabbage. tomatoes egg plants, peppers, etc. and after the plant shave been grown it can still
 be used as a cold frame. The ma
 nure used in constructing the hot bed
 will still be good to use as a fertil
 izer on the garden. In fact. it has
 only routed while in there, and if Il has not been allowed to remain over wet it should still contain most of its
 fertilizing value. Crops like lettuce
 and radishes are often grown to ma
 turity in old hot beds.
 For further information kindly write to the Extension Department
 University of Arkansas. Fayetteville