NORFOLK TRUCKING 



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that kale, spinach and cabbage occupy the ground during the 

 fall, winter and spring months, and that some soil improve- 

 ment crops, such as cowpeas or soy beans, are usually grown 

 during the summer. In some cases the winter crops are omit- 

 ted in the rotation, and crimson clover is grown as a means 

 of improving the soil. This scheme of crop rotation neces- 

 sitates the extensive use of stable manure and commercial 

 fertilizers as a means of maintaining soil fertility. 



Spinach. 



The spinach crop usually absorbs most of the attention dur- 

 ing the winter months. The ground for the crop is prepared 

 and the seed sown in September and October. Some growers 

 plant a small amount of their seed the latter part of August, 

 and some as late as November or December. The crop plant- 

 ed in August is usually harvested in October or November; 

 that planted in September is harvested in November and De- 

 cember ; and that planted in October is harvested in January, 

 February and March, while that planted in November and 

 December is harvested for the April market. It will thus be 

 seen that the southern grower plans to market his spinach 

 during the winter months, when the spinach in the northern 

 markets is checked by the severe winter weather. Most 

 truckers grow spinach on low, flat beds varying in width from 

 four and one-half to seven feet wide with a furrow six inches 

 deep between the beds. The beds are used as a means of 

 procuring good drainage during the winter months. Four 

 rows of seed are sown on the narrow beds and seven on the 

 wide ones. The rows are about ten inches apart. This 

 method of planting leaves quite Avide alleys between the beds. 

 From fifteen to twenty-five pounds of seed are necessary to 

 sow an acre. The seed are sown with a horse power drill 

 that is arranged to plant a bed at a time. The drill covers 

 the seed about one-half inch deep, the ground then being im- 

 mediately rolled with a light roller. As soon as the young 

 plants have attained a height of two or three inches, they are 

 thinned so that the individual plants stand five or six inches 

 apart in the rows. The thinning is done either with a small 

 narrow-bladed hoe or a large iron spoon. Where the spoons 



