Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1896 — ARTICHOKES AS STOCK FOOD. [ARTICLE]

ARTICHOKES AS STOCK FOOD.

The Indiana Experiment Station has this spring received numerous letters inquiring about artichokes, especially bearing on their value as a food for swine. FOr inany years artichokes have been grown in a limited way ia the Unit'd States, more especially as a food for pigs in pasture. The following analysis is given by the Kansas Experiment Station: Water .... .. ..84.50 DRY MATTER. Asll .......... 5.33 Protein... .....* * 12.08 Fibre 3.43 Nitrogen, tree extract. 78.56 Fat 60 i . —t 100.00 This analysis shows artichokes to contain a fairly large amount of nutriment, being superior to potatoes, turnips, rutabagas, squashes and pumpkins. Artichokes are grown much the same as potatoes. From four to' six bushels of seed per acre are recommended by different growers. The tubers may be cut small like potatoes, and planted 15 to 18 inches apart in rows 3$ feet apart. Planting may be done in the spring, till June 1, and also during the latter part of the fall, before freezing. The ground should be well tilled and weeds destroyed. The roots spread widely, and at the end of the season, unless cultivation has been vigorons, cover the ground. Freezing does not injure the tubers, so that they will live through the Winter and be sweet and palatable in the spring. Several varieties are advertisedThe Jerusalem is an old, well known variety. The Red Brazilian and Mammoth White French are also popular. The Red Brazilian has been grown somewhat in America for over a score of years, and it is claimed that its roots do not spread so badly as do the Jerusalem. The price of roots varies widely. From circulars in my possession, quotations range from 57 cents to $3.00 per bushel, the Jerusalem being cheapest. One Indiana farmer advertises six bushels for $3.00. The artichoke is very productive, and it is fieely claimed by growers that 1,000 bushels per acre may be grown.

There i. some diversity of opinion concerning the desirability of grow ing this plant on the farm. Some regard it as a nuisance, owing to the difficulty of controlling its growth, while others think it a valu ble food for pigs. Mr. L. N. Bonham, former Secretary of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, states in a recent Breeders’ Gazette * that he spent five years in eradic ting it from his farm. There are others also, who do not endorse this plant. There are numerous pig raisers however, who find artichokes a profitable food their stock. Coburn in his “Swine Husbandry” quotes the favorable experience of a number of swine breeders in growing and feeding artichokes. Simon Cox of Illinois, in late Breeders’ Gazette, states that last year he raised 12 acres of artichokes, and that he found them much cheaper for his pigs than bran or shorts. Unquestionably ;as a succulent food they aid in keeping the system in a healthy condition by promoting a desirable activity of the bowels. Farmeu to try crop on a small scale o begin with, and then inerease its culture if experience justifies. Without doubt the pigs will relish the roots, as they are very palatable, and a field of them makes a good rooting ground for the hog. Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station. Newspaper Bull.tin No. 25, April 27, 1896. C. S. Plumb, Director.