CHAPTER XXIII 

 SUCCESSION AND COMPANION CROPPING 



689. Succession cropping. Market gardening and 

 home vegetable gardening are necessarily intensive forms 

 of cropping. The work should be planned so that there 

 will be no loss of space nor loss of time. Maximum yields 

 and maximum returns are the chief aims. One crop fol- 

 lows another in quick succession. In the North, for ex- 

 ample, lettuce may be planted a foot apart each way as 

 early in the spring as the ground can be prepared. Strong 

 plants should attain a marketable size in five weeks, 

 when the crop should be promptly sold and summer 

 radishes sown. After four or five weeks the ground is 

 again vacant and a third crop, perhaps snap beans, 

 started. In the most favorable sections the beans 

 would be sold in time to grow winter radishes or a win- 

 ter cover crop. Plans for succession cropping are 

 numerous. The foregoing is merely an example of many 

 plans used in various parts of the country. Soils, climate, 

 markets and labor conditions must be considered when 

 making plans for succession cropping. 



690. Companion cropping. When two or more crops 

 are grown together the system is known as companion 

 cropping, intercropping, or double cropping. The plan 

 usually embraces succession cropping. Three vegeta- 

 bles, as cabbage, lettuce and radishes, may be started 

 early in the spring at the same time. The radishes will 

 mature and be removed first. After the removal of the 

 lettuce, the cabbage will have entire possession of the 

 ground; then, beans may follow the cabbage. This is 

 simply an example of the many plans for companion 

 cropping. 



