58 BULLETIN 1409, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
to resort to dry-land farming in areas of deficient rainfall in a sparsely 
populated country, when there are enormous areas of fertile land 
with a temperate climate and ample rainfall within easy reach of 
the principal centers of population, and with good railway and port 
facilities. 
Market, Vegetable, and Flower Gardens 
Near Buenos Aires and other large cities considerable areas are 
devoted to market gardens in which all the common vegetables are 
grown. Because of the mild winter climate, many vegetables such 
as cabbages, beets, lettuce, and radishes are supplied throughout the 
winter. In all the cities and towns nearly every house has a vegetable 
garden and all have year-round flower gardens, except in the heart 
of the business sections. Most of the larger cities have ornamental 
parks and rose gardens ; practically every city and town has a central 
park or plaza planted with trees, palms, and flower beds; and, with 
few exceptions, all the railway stations have small ornamental parks 
or plantings of palms, ornamental trees, roses, and other flowering 
plants. 
Fertilizers 
Commercial fertilizers and green manures are practically unknown 
m Argentina. Only in the market gardens near cities is any attempt 
made to use animal manure. No systematic rotation of crops is 
followed, although the same land may be used in different years for 
wheat, corn, or flaxseed. It is the general belief in the cereal region 
that the fertility of the soil is inexhaustible and that fertilizers will 
never be needed. In proof of this, it is alleged that corn or wheat 
has been grown continuously year after year on the same land for 
as many as 20 or 30 years without any decrease in yield. 
Seed Time and Harvest 12 
The seasons in Argentina and other South American countries 
south of the Equator are just the reverse of those in the United 
States, and because of the milder climate in a large portion of the 
country the periods of seeding and harvesting are less definite and 
somewhat longer than in the cereal region in the United States. 
Table 46 is a schedule of average planting and harvesting dates in 
Argentina. It should be understood that as a general rule planting 
and harvesting begin in the north, progress southward, and end in 
the south. 
12 Probably the best publication on practical farm and livestock management in Argentina is Alejandro 
Gandarias's Explotacion practica de estancias y chacras. Buenos Aires, Libreria Jose Moly; also the 
following: • 
Argentine Republic. Ministerio de agriculture. Almanaque del Ministerio de Agricultura para el 
ario 1925. Buenos Aires, Talleres graficos del Ministerio de agricultura de la nacion, 1924. Argentine 
Republic. Ministerio de agricultura de la nacion. Propaganda e informes. Circ. 343. 
