Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-02-25
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Root CRoPs-The cultivation of roots for
horses and cattle III winter, Is happily beginning
to commend itself to the attention Of Farmers
We have seen large feldsa and fine crops ofthe Ru
tabaga, Mangel Wurtzel, Beet, Carrot. and Pars.
nip, in the different parts of the State and in Can.
ada, the past season. The following is the report
on root crops, OF the Bennington County Agricul.
tural Society:
"The cultivation of roots has been too much
neglected by the farmers of Bennington county
Why it is SO, is a mystery. 1t is certainly less
exhausting to the soil-leaves it in better con-
dition for future cultivation, and returns greater
proht for the amount expended, than almost any
other crop. Fed to farm stock in the winter, It
answers the purpose of green food in the summer,
ana tends much to promote health and good APP
pearance. There was more competition in pota-
toes this year than formerly. The yield varied
from 252 to 220 bushels per acre. Those crops
reported were planted upon green sward. Mr.
Martin Wheeloek who raised on one half acre l64
bushels, planted in rows one way three feet apart,
and the hills within sixteen inches of each other
and used two bushels ashes
Mr.. S. ID. Walbrdge plowed and planted the
18th day OF April in hills three feet apart each
way. The seed was the Western Reds, and not
larger than butternuts. He planted four bushels
and from IL acre he harvested l26 bushels of good
sized potatoes. The whole cost of the crop. in
Guiding interest on the land, is estimated at Sl5
so.
Mr.. Harlow Huntington says in regard to his
carrot, beet and onion crops the ground was all
coated with dung and plowed in the fall. Anoth-
er light coat was spread on the carrot and beet
ground IN the sprng-then plowed, narrowed and
rolled, and then plowed again The carrots were
planted in drills, l6 inches apart, and yielded on
% l-2 rods of ground, $50 bushels. His beets
were planted in rows, two feet apart and from
three to six inches in the row. About one-third
of the seed failed the first time planting, and had
to be planted over again. Notwithstanding this,
he harvested from 80 rods 239 bushels
Mr.. Huntington planted his onions on the 9Th
day of may, later than usual, in drills IL inches
apart, and dropped by hand, and harvested the
first day of October, when the tops are fallen and
principally dead. On 80 rods of ground he raised
l55 bushels.
Mr.. Walbridge's carrot crop was raised on a
sandy loan; had been moved for several years
the crop of hay was light Last May he spread
ten loads OF coarse manure, and plowed 10 the
| depth of seven inches, and SUBSIDIZED about six
inches more. After which be spread about one
hundred bushels Of leached ashes on the lurrow,
and narrowed till it was in fine condition for seed.
lie then sowed half pound with Emery's seed
sower, in rows two feet apart, running north and
south. In consequence Of the drought, the seed
came up very uneven He hoed them twice and
on the 9th of July sowed the vacant places with
rutabagas and on the 9th Of November, he har-
vested 200 bushels of carrots, and 100 bushels Of
rutabagas. Owing to the toughness of the sward
the carrots did not penetrate, consequently were
short The expense of raising is pat at $24 90.
-Vt. Watchman