ARTICHOKES I05 



drained soils. The light sandy or gravelly soils 

 too poor for most other crops often produce very 

 thriving crops. A dry soil is desirable, otherwise 

 the tubers may rot. The artichoke plant has con- 

 siderable drouth-resisting qualities, and for that 

 reason fits in very nicely with other farm crops, 

 since the little poor patches may be given over to 

 it to be employed as heretofore indicated. Fungous 

 diseases and insect pests do not seem to trouble the 

 plants. In setting the bed, give the land deep till- 

 age and set the plants in rows 3 feet apart and the 

 sets in rows 2 feet apart. The plantings are made 

 by the tubers or sets, just as with potatoes. Inas- 

 much as the artichoke plant is not sensitive to 

 frost it may be planted early in the spring. It is a 

 good plan to cultivate during the summer just 

 about the same as potatoes. The plants grow from 

 6 to 10 feet in height and very much resemble the 

 wild sunflower in appearance. 



BARLEY. — ^The principal use of barley is for 

 malting and stock feeding. Although grown in 

 nearly all sections of the country, its extensive cul- 

 ture is confined to a few states, chief among which 

 are California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and the 

 Dakotas. The best malting barley is grown on 

 rather light, well-drained soil producing medium 

 yields of bright grain. Heavy yields of grain and 

 straw are secured on fertile loams and clay, but the 

 grain is darker colored and suitable only for stock 

 feed. In fact, grain grown on heavier soils is of 

 much higher feeding value. 



Plowing and fitting the ground for barley needs 

 to be done more deeply and thoroughly than for 

 wheat or any other grain crop. It is good practice 

 to follow with barley after some hoed crop that 



