Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-10-15
rmn d. Ma.ns r,rmsr
A Chapter on Turnips.

II will b. r'collectcd ty many ol the sub
.criLsr. Of tac Farmer, that n few years
since q .cric, Of article, appeared, IN FIRST
principles OF scientific farming. basel on
chemical action. as the only cou'so 10
the desired improvement, in agriculture.
The samc views are still cntertAinci,-cat.
tie shows, and agricultural exhibitions, TO
the contrary notwi,h',anding,-for, II Is
" more value u the farmer 20 know how
TO produce one maximum crop, than 10 see
a thousand without knowing ihe modus op-
crudi of their production. In preparing
mauurc' with tbsir proportion 'or the crop.
aud to s-pply the deficiency in the soil and
the manner Of cultivation, the reader is rc-
ilrrcl TO the article. above alluded to.
We have planted about two'acrc' Of 'ur-
nips cor .iE years in succession, with an av-
crasc c-op, ay, twenty tons per acre; the
labor. after sowing. has been running the
cultiyaior at two or three different times,
apd once hosins, not oxccsling three days
work to the acre, IL being required in hay
ins season, when labor Is in great demand
had they been thinpcl and transplanted at
proper distances. and we'll hocd, there prob
ably would have Leln one.iourth more crop,
bot my Object has been to prepare as much
ground a. possible f1r future crops. and
consider this the best fJrm, the potato crop
not excepted. For being done IN mid Summer
the ground is necessarily brought to fine
tilth. anI weed. prevented from seeding and
receiving more Of their organic substance
from the mir than most other crops, cOnsc.
quen,ly less oxhausting to the soil. Ia
proof OF thi, my gras, crops bold out better
alter turnips than any other crops.
They are the last and cheapcft crop gath.
cred in. They should be dry before being
put in large piles, or boards or rails ~
placed as to give circulation Of air through
the pile to prevent heating. Are turnips
worth anything-and for what' are qucs-
tions sometimes asked. We can only ap.
proximate their true value by comparison.
They contain less than 10 pcr cent. Of dry
uutritivc matter, consequently more than
30 per cent. Of water or sp,-,hc nutri,ive
part is rich in phosphate and alkalies. or IN
bone and muscle, making muscle bat poor
in iatty matter hence, the frequent remark
that an animal foil led on ,urnips is hoshy
but not fat, however full fed. Here | will
answer another question; how many tur-
nip- per day should be fed with economy ?
answer. enough barely to supply the neces
sary liquid. would be an actual in.
jury, supplying rcdundnnce Of water, the
animal would be induced TO take in by Civ
ing a full supply. Ono bushcl would fur
nish G7 lbs. liquid, which would be ample
for any animal during day.
Ny conviction is. that two tons Of turnips
and one ton OF straw will prodaee more
milk, (the type Of animal food,) more
growth, and better health than two tons Of
hay, fed to any animal, and for at,enins.
labor, or new milch cows, II ten bushels OF
meal were added, would mole than equal
three tons Of hay.
MANNER OF UsrNG. For milch cows, hor-
ses and hogs, l would steam them, with or
without, meal, IL meal is added il should be
steamed with the 'urnips; steaming obyiates
any bad favor, and adds to the quantity OF
the milk or meat, and renders them more
easily and thoroughly digcstible. For
growing stock, sseauiDsi is not 50 important,