Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1868 [PAGE 268]

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256

M. A. McConnell.—We think pumpkins pay big for cattle. I feed them cut in the fall to milch cows improves the quality and increases the quantity of milk in all cases. H. Pierce.—The common sort of pumpkin is planted sometimes with corn, and is fed to cattle and hogs in fall, preparatory to feeding corn, and sometimes as alternate feed. Hubbard squash is the favorite. Watermelons, on a sandy soil, 6 miles east, are raised as a field crop. J. Tefft.—Only raised amongst corn. bug. Have no idea of cost or value of crop, ^triped

A. Eanhin.—I think pumpkins and squashes, when fed to stock in the fall, are about equal to good grass pasture, and would recommend farmers to raise them for feed, j u s t before winter sets in, as they can be raised at very little cost. T. Gregg.— The Hubbard and Boston marrow squashes, I have found to" be the best for garden cultivation. G. W. Vaughan.—Ground plants are generally of little value, as a field crop, and few raise them, save for their own use. Pumpkins and squashes are generally planted with corn, but not extensively. Small striped and black bugs often destroy the young plants. E. A. fiiehl.—Of squashes, I consider the Hubbard and American Turban the best; of watermelons, the Ice Cream is superior to all o t h e r s ; W a r d ' s Nectar, the best of the musk varieties. J. Balsiger.—Pumpkins, squashes and watermelons do well on rich land ; the former are commonly planted with the corn, and fed out to cattle and hogs ; but as far as I could see, neither were very fond of them. Squashes we raise for our own use, but with great trouble defend them from the ravages of the big black bugs which destroy the plants. W e know of no other means of destroying these pests than by hand-picking the insects and their eggs, and crushing them. J. Barber.—Pumpkins, squashes and melons succeed well by planting on newly turned sod, fresh timber land, or by manuring in the hill, when planted on old laind. The greatest enemy is a small striped bug, which attacks the plants when quite y o u n g ; it will even eat the young and tender squash. J. Warder.—I have paid some special attention to growing watermelons. I break my ground deep, plant about 10 feet apart, manure in the hills, and thin to one vine ; keep the ground well stirred with shovel plow until the vines begin to run, then smooth the surface with a harrow, and keep clean with the hoe. I sold, last year, fifty dollars' worth, raised on a piece of ground 35 yards square (just one-fourth of an acre), besides what were eaten by my family of fix, and goers and comers. Average price, 15 cents ; commenced ripening the first of August. 11. MiGOELLATSfEors.—Hops, tobacco, broom corn, sorghum, onions, chiccory: growth, management and value a? a farm crop ? M. A. McConnell.—Hops care, pay as a farm crop. are a good crop, but we don't grow them ; they will, with

B. Pierce.—Hops and tobacco are not grown except for home use in gardens. Broom corn, 8 miles south, is raised in large quantities, and is the most paying crop. The Otaheite sorghum is best, producing from 50 to 200 gallons per act e. Not much sorghum will be planted this coming summer (1868) as there is but little sale for the molasses. C. E. Barney.—No experience with s o r g h u m ; I think J;he venders of the machinery make the most money. V. Al<lrich.—l\y experience with sopghum is limited, having raised only enough for home consumption. I have always done that, not using any other sirup, and but very little sugar. The largest yield I have ever had, was 120 gallons, from one-half a c r e ; raised on high dry prairie land, that you might call rich. The last of April, I planted