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. 
