THE QUESTION BOX. 



The Question Box shall be an " open parliament " for the discussion of the practical, every-day questions that perplex the 

 irrigation farmers. Questions will be answered by those men of long experience among our readers who are glad to give of their 

 knowledge for the common good. Further answers are solicited from any reader whose experience differs from that published 

 here. THE AGE reserves all rights of control of the department. 



Cauliflower. What is the best cauliflower to raise for mar- 

 ket under irrigation? What culture should be given cauliflower 

 under irrigation different from that in the East? How often 

 should cauliflower be watered? What are the best fertilizing 

 materials for raising cauliflower under irrigation? 



WM. C., Arizona. 



Vick's ideal is one of the best cauliflower I know 

 of to raise for market under irrigation, the early 

 Snow Ball the next best. The ground should be 

 heavily manured in the fall and plowed in deep, then 

 plowed and harrowed twice in the spring, the plants 

 set in rows 2% feet apart and \% feet apart in the 

 row, and as soon as dry weather commences they 

 should be irrigated every eighth or tenth day by run- 

 ning the water in furrows eight inches from each 

 row, and the second day after watering they should 

 be well cultivated, so as to keep the ground mellow. 

 After cultivating make the furrow for watering 

 again. Continue this labor till the plants begin to 

 cover the ground, when the ground wont need stir- 

 ring after irrigating. Don't let the water get out of 

 the furrows and flood the ground, only use water 

 enough to run slowly, so as to soak the ground good. 



Respectfully yours, GEO. L. FARRELL, 



Smithfield, Utah. 



Fertilizing Crop. What crop would you recommend me to 

 grow for plowing under as a green manure? Would crimson 

 clover be a good crop for green manuring under irrigation? How 

 about Southern cow peas or Essex rape for this purpose? I have 

 grown oats in Florida as a catch crop to plow under, but would 

 like the experience of others on this matter. J. S. T., Colo. 



Try sowing a bushel of sorghum seed per acre (the 

 black amber is probably the best), give it plenty of 

 water and turn under the crop before any seed forms. 

 I have not tried this myself, but it is claimed that re- 

 markable results may be so obtained. Certainly no 

 other crop will supply such a mass of green manure 

 with so little expense and labor. Alfalfa is an excel- 

 lent crop for enriching the soil, both as one of the se- 

 ries in a set rotation and as a green manure, but it is 

 a hard crop to turn under, on account of the mass of 

 strong roots, and only the cleanest plowing to a good 

 depth will prevent its proving a. bad weed where it 

 isn't wanted. I know nothing about the merits for 

 fertilizing purposes of the crops mentioned by your 

 correspondent. J. W. GREGORY, 



Garden City, Kan. 



Japanese Persimmons. Are Japanese persimmons a pro- 

 fitable crop to raise under irrigation? What variety would you 

 recommend, suitable for shipment to San Francisco? 



H. R. W., California. 



The Kaki, or Japan persimmon, has proven a prof- 

 itable crop in Florida, and would probably be fairly 

 profitable if properly handled in California. Mr. 

 Luther Burbank of Santa Rosa, Cal., informs me that 

 they have not generally paid as well as some other 

 fruits, and that they fruit in greatest abundance and 

 perfection there without irrigation. The following 

 are among the best varieties: 



Castata. Medium size, conical, skin salmon yel- 

 low; flesh light yellow; astringent until ripe, then 

 very fine; late and keeps well. 



Hyakume Large, varying from roundish oblong 

 to roundish oblate; skin light buffish yellow; flesh 

 dark brown; sweet, not astringent; good keeper; one 

 of the best market sorts. 



Okame. Large roundish oblate, with well-defined 

 quarter marks, point not depressed; skin orange yel- 

 low, changing to brilliant carmine; waxy, translucent 

 appearance; light, clear flesh when ripe, with ligh 

 brown center around seed; loses its astringency as 

 soon as it begins to ripen. 



Zeuge. Small, round or roundish oblate; skin yel- 

 lowish red; flesh very dark; seedy; edible when still 

 hard; one of the earliest to ripen. Tree vigorous 

 and a good bearer. C. B. CHANNEL, 



Nebraska. 



Squashes. Would it be profitable to raise squashes for mar- 

 ket near here (Merced, Cal.); if so, what varieties would you re- 

 commend? What cultural methods are best for this crop, under 

 irrigation? How far should they be planted from melons to pre- 

 vent hybridizing? S. A. McM. 



My method of raising squash is to prepare ground 

 about the 20th of May. I put a small shovel full of 

 hen manure under each hill, by throwing out a shovel 

 full or two of dirt to make a hole; then I put in the 

 manure, then dirt on the manure; put in five or six 

 seed on dirt, then cover dirt over seed, then irrigate 

 them. When up, pull all out of the hill but the three 

 strongest plants. I put hills ten feet apart each way; 

 three rows of corn or anything else between squash 

 and melons; they will not mix. 



Now as to culture. I cultivate twice between each 

 irrigation, and I irrigate three or four times during 

 season. As to kind, I plant the Hubbard, as they do 

 best, keep best, sell best, and pay to raise. I can 

 make money at raising and sell at $1 per wagon load. 

 It is surprising what amount can be raised on an 

 acre. I am planting six acres this season in my 

 orchard. AARON WALTERS, 



Colorado. 



Farmer: " James, have you watered the cows this 

 morning? " 



New man from the city: "No, sir; not for two 

 days " 



Farmer: " What ! '' 



New man from the city: "I -I heard you say 

 day before yesterday, sir, that they wouldn't be dry 

 for about six weeks yet, sir." 



" If anybody iver catches me stroikin',' 1 said Mr. 

 Dolan, "'twill be whin Oi'm out av impl'yment, an' 

 hov nothin' betther to do." 



The recording angel (to assistant) : " Say, bring 

 me a pot of ink and a dozen new quills." 



Assistant: "Why this unwonted preparation, oh 

 thou with sharp ears? " 



The recording angel: " Why, here's a fellow who 

 has just got home from Europe, going to meet some 

 friends and tell them all a,bout his trip.' 1 



