1903 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
357 
EVERYBODY'S GARDEN. 
lOTENSiVE Cropping. —On page 260 is 
a note from G. F. R., Indianapolis, Ind., 
with a request for suggestions. Lacking 
any knowledge of surrounding condi¬ 
tions, only suggestive hints could be of¬ 
fered. In a private letter, however, more 
extended plans, as to the litmus test for 
acidity, subsoiling (if necessary), etc., 
were outlined. A reply to that letter is 
at hand. It touches upon the labor 
problem, and is so intensely practical 
that I insert it nearly'entire: 
Myself, wife, one son and daughter are 
endeavoring to carry out our plans as best 
we can. Labor is scarce, unreliable and 
very independent. Electric roads and other 
enterprises are employing all the men they 
can get hold of, and at better prices than 
we can afford to pay. If the men, how¬ 
ever, will count their loss of time In bad 
weather, one week with another, they were 
getting more from me than they now re¬ 
ceive. Farmers are also without help, and 
are unable to get their Spring work under 
way. Our help did the same as farmers, 
dairymen and others report; took their 
usual pay on Saturday evening, and failed 
10 report on Monday morning. Our soil 
conditions are fairly good—no acidity of 
soil—a good loam underlaid with sand and 
gravel at a depth of about four feet. We 
have plowed under a good coat of rotten 
manure, gathered from the stables where 
straw only is used for bedding. We aim 
to use manure after all crops are taken 
off. as we have plenty of it. The late Mr. 
Livingston, of Columbus, Ohio, advised me 
never to subsoil our ground, and 1 hardly 
tliink it necessary. Usually we can work 
it 24 hours after a heavy rainfall. We 
made a test with litmus paper in several 
places, and not a sign of sourness was 
visible. 
Our greenhouses are even span, running 
north and south, with propagating house 
and cellar adjoining on the north. Under 
the benches and in the cellar we have 
muslirooms—the hardest problem I have 
yet had to solve, i think, however, I 
have linally got it for good. We have one 
cool greenliouse for lettuce, followed by 
cucumbers in the latter part of April. Two 
warm greenhouses for Winter tomatoes and 
cucumbers are occupied the entire year. 
The houses are only idle three or four 
weeks in August to give time to change 
soil for Winter. We have 30 hotbed sash, 
used mostly on cold frames for hardening 
off plants for outdoor planting. We would 
like to find out the possibilities of an acre 
under intensive culture. We have experi¬ 
mented in a small way, and this year are 
putting in crops mostly on results of these 
experiments. VVe have live rows of pota¬ 
toes now up (April 15). They were started 
in pots in greenhouse in early part of 
March. As soon as they showed in the 
pots they were transferred to cold frames, 
pots and all, which made stocky plants. 
VVe liave enough cauliflower and early 
cabbage for about six rows—1,200 plants, 
mostly the former. Lettuce plants now in 
cold frames will be planted between cab¬ 
bage and cauliflower, in and between the 
rows. We have enougli sweet corn in pots 
(ready to go into the cold frames in a few 
days), to plant about 15 rows. Seven rows 
space are now in early peas, drilled in 
rows 13 inches apart. The outside lot will 
have 33 rows main crop. About 1,500 to¬ 
mato plants are now in cold frames to fol¬ 
low peas. They will be in rows, staked 
and pruned to a single stem. We also have 
rhubarb plants now in cold frames that 
will probably be set between tomato rows. 
Our present plan is to follow potatoes, 
cabbage, cauliflower and sweet corn with 
celery. And we are thinking now of 
cantaloupes between rows of cabbage and 
cauliflower after lettuce is out of the way. 
We have heretofore had them in a small 
way, when the market here was dependent 
for supply upon Georgia. Of course, they 
were started in pots. Everything we are 
doing on the out lot has been done in a 
small way heretofore. I am so far very 
favorably impressed with starting plants 
in pots, as the work can all be done on 
rainy days. On the principle that a doctor 
should know his patient’s actual condition, 
1 have given you as nearly as 1 can. Up 
hresent outline of our work, and any sug¬ 
gestions will be thankfully received. I be¬ 
lieve the market of any city belongs first, 
to the people who live there, and I want 
the best methods of raising such things 
as the market demands at paying prices. 
Under the soil conditions mentioned 
I hardly think either underdraining or 
subsoiling would ever be necessary. The 
33 rows main crops in outside lot are 
doubtless mostly all-season crops that 
will admit of but little if any rotation. 
If this be so, I would if possible sow 
Crimson clover at last cultivation for a 
cover crop during Winter, or as soon 
as crops are taken off, manure heavily 
and plow down, then sow to rye. Either 
the clover or rye will be of much value 
to the land during the Winter, and if 
treated in the latter way the Spring 
plowing will throw up the manure and 
the cultivation will thoroughly incor¬ 
porate it with the soil, leaving it in the 
best possible condition for the crop next 
season. 
I see no fault in the successions men¬ 
tioned for the other ground, and believe 
the crops will work nicely together, un¬ 
less the cantaloupes would be too late 
for the celery. I fear that planted after 
the lettuce is off the melons will stand 
an uneven chance with the cabbage. 
Will they not receive too much check 
and fail to make rapid growth until the 
cabbages are off? If this were so they 
might fail to make an extra early crop 
(which you desire), and thus interfere 
with the celery. I have often been 
caught with early sweet corn and pie 
pumpkins, and found that the latter 
would do very little until the former 
was cleared off. However, try it to some 
extent at least, as the practical demon¬ 
stration will be far more valuable than 
any amount of theory regarding it. 
With this exception (provided I am 
right) I believe your plan carried out as 
outlined will prove a valuable object 
lesson in intensive cropping, if supple¬ 
mented with intensive culture. But 
that will be heavy cropping and the 
drain on the soil will be immense, so 
nothing save the utmost care wiil hold 
the fertility anywhere near high-water 
mark. You can do this, however, but 
just as soon as the last crops are off 
plow down the manure in quantities and 
sow on rye for Winter protection. You 
say you wish to know the possibilities 
of an acre under intensive culture. Your 
plans well executed will give a pretty 
good idea of what can be done, and when 
the season closes we shall be glad to 
know what the results are. With ex¬ 
tensive feeding you can crop intensively 
with the best of results for awhile. By 
and by, however, in spite of all the feed¬ 
ing your soil will grow sick and tired, 
and an entire change of crops and man¬ 
agement will be necessary in order to 
give it rest I like your pians, and also 
your experiments. These problems 
worked out and proven right on your 
own soil are worth more than all the 
theories that can be written. Feed 
bountifully, cultivate intensively and 
keep the soil busy, and when it does 
grow weary a change of crops and new 
rotations will give the needed rest. Your 
experiences upon the labor problem 
seem to be the common lot of all just 
now, and the present outlook seems 
to forecast worse rather than better 
conditions. J. e. morse. 
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