124 FIELD AND LABORATORY STUDIES OF CROPS 



Companion cropping is the growing of more than one kind 

 of crop in the same space at the same time. That is, two or 

 more crops occupy the ground together, but their seasons for 

 full development are of different lengths and the earlier- 

 maturing ones are up and utiUzed before their slower- 

 growing companions are large enough to need the space. 

 The first crop to mature may be planted in the same rows 

 with the others or between the rows. Companion cropping 

 ordinarily would not be practiced to any great extent in the 

 farm garden. It often requires an increased use of the 

 smaller hand tools and more time and attention must be 

 given to details if the system is to be a success. On the 

 farm, there is usually sufficient space for the garden, so that 

 the grower can better afford to use more ground than to 

 obligate himself to spend more time and labor there. In 

 limited areas, companion cropping is usually an advantage- 

 ous practice. 



Vegetable growers make use of a large number of 

 combinations in their work, a few of the more common 

 ones being as follows: Lettuce and early cabbage grown 

 alternately in the row. The lettuce will be ready for con- 

 sumption early, and after its removal the cabbage has the 

 entire space. Radish seeds may be sown thinly in the same 

 rows with onions, parsnips, parsley, salsify, beets, kohlrabi, 

 turnips, carrots and others. 



Succession cropping will probably prove of more value to 

 the farmer than companion cropping. By this system, the 

 ground is kept occupied by a crop nearly all of the time. 

 When an early-maturing kind is removed, it is followed by 

 some other vegetable whose season will permit its being 



