262 SYSTEMS OF INTENSIVE CROPPING 



that this may be done, all three crops must have relatively short 

 periods of growth, and the first and last must be capable of with- 

 standing frost. One such combination would be: Leaf lettuce, 

 string beans, fall turnips. Another would be: Spinach, early 

 sweet corn, fall radishes. A third combination would be: Green 

 onions from sets, pickle cucumbers, fall spinach. 



Combination of the Two Systems. — Sometimes a system of 

 intensive cropping is practiced which is essentially a combination 

 of companion and succession cropping. In this case the second 

 crop is planted considerably later than the first, but before the 

 first has been harvested. For example, dwarf peas may be planted 

 early in the spring in rows wide enough apart to be cultivated 

 with a horse. About the time the tillage of the peas would normally 

 cease, sweet corn is planted between the rows of peas, and culti- 

 vated close to the rows with a wheel hoe if necessary before the 

 peas are harvested. Upon the removal of the peas, the tillage 

 of the corn is continued with a horse cultivator. After the tillage 

 of the corn ceases, turnips may be sown broadcast between the 

 rows. 



Another example of this method of cropping would be to plant 

 winter squashes in a patch of early potatoes where a few hills 

 (properly spaced) have been dug in advance of the regular harvest. 

 In a field of onions grown from seed, every fourth or fifth row may 

 be pulled out early in July and sold as bunch onions, and a row 

 of celery planted to fill the space. After the regular crop of onions 

 has been harvested in August or early September, the banking 

 of the celery can begin. 



The above combinations of vegetables for intensive systems 

 of cropping are mentioned merely to illustrate the principles 

 involved. A large number of other combinations might be em- 

 ployed. The particular set of crops to be selected would depend 

 to considerable extent upon the demands of the market to be sup- 

 plied, the length of the growing season, and the amount of rainfall 

 or artificial water supply that could be depended upon at the time 

 the later crops would necessarily be planted. The above combina- 

 tions are based upon the assumption that planting could proceed 

 at any time desired, without waiting for belated rainfall. With 

 facilities for artificial watering this would be true; in gardens 

 entirely dependent upon rainfall for the moisture supply, it might 

 not be. 



Relative Merits of the Different Systems. — Companion crop- 



