SUGGESTIONS TO SETTLERS IN COLUMBIA RIVEE VALLEY. 17 



European varieties. — Alexantlria (synonym, Muscat of Alexandria), 

 Malaga, Flame Tokay, and Black Hamburg. 



The European varieties of grapes must be planted with the expec- 

 tation of letting the vines down and covering them well every fall. 

 Unless this is done they will not succeed, for the winters are usually 

 severe enough to kill the vines to the ground. 



TRUCK CROPS. 

 ASPARAGUS. 



The early season of the irrigated districts along the Columbia 

 River makes asparagus a very profitable crop to those who will 

 handle it properly. A very successful asparagus grower in the vicinity 

 of Kenncwick, Wash., starts it on sandy soil as follows: Furrows are 

 laid off in the early spring about 15 to 20 inches apart. After scat- 

 tering partly decayed stable manure in the furrows, water is turned 

 on to soak thoroughly the soil and the manure. Xitrate of soda is 

 then applied and the soil cultivated while yet moist. Seed that has 

 been soaked in warm water for 24 hours is planted in drills laid out 

 over the furrows in which the manure and nitrate of soda were applied. 

 The seed is sown in the drill about IJ to 2 inches apart, and when 

 the plants are started well they are thinned to 3 to 4 inches apart. 

 After sowing the seed the land is irrigated frequently and cultivated 

 while the soil is damp. Cultivating while the soil is moist keeps it 

 from drifting so easily into the irrigating furrow. 



When the plants are 1 year old they are transplanted in rows 4 

 or 5 feet apart. Furrows 8 inches deep are laid off, into which manure 

 is scattered and soaked as when planting the seed. The yearling 

 plants are set 18 inches apart in the rows. The crowns are set 6 to 

 8 inches below the surface of the ground. Irrigation is frequent and 

 manure is liberally used. One year from the date of transplanting, 

 some begin to cut the shoots for market. It is generally conceded 

 that this should be a light cutting in order to develop the most profit- 

 able bed. By purchasing yearling plants for transplanting, one year 

 may be saved. 



POTATOES. 



Potatoes, especially the early varieties, should do well on soil that 

 has been enriched either with manure or by growing clover or alfalfa 

 for one or more years. The early varieties may be marketed the last 

 of June or the first of July. This leaves plenty of time to raise such 

 crops as beets, turnips, rutabagas, and cauliflower. In this way two 

 crops may be grown on the same land during the year. If desirable, 

 a green manure crop, either clover or hairy vetch, may be gro\vn and 

 plowed under after digging the potatoes. 



[Cir. 60] 



