Nebraska advertiser., 1861-11-21
Raising Turnlns for Stock.

/
This root probaly contains less nu-
triment in proportion to its bulk than
any other, yet, from the facility with
which it is cultivated, and its whole
some effect upon stock, it is one of the
most profitable to raise IF ten BUSH
els of English turnips can be produc
ed with less actual expenditure of cap
ital and time than is requisite to pro-
duce three bushels of potatoes or car
rOts, the former is certainly the more
profitable crop, as no one can doubt
that the nutritive value of the former
will upon analysis, be found consider
ably greater than the latter.
On green sward recently broken,
and prepared, especially if an appli-
cation Of some sort of alkaline matter
they do well; so rich crops have been
produced on alluvial lands where the
deposit was of silicious description,
intermixed with a slight per centage
of alluminOus earth. But the largest
and finest crops we have ever seen,
were raised ON land where the bushes
had been cut and burned. and the land
plOwed quite shallow, and sowed about
the tenth of July. Advantage should
be taken of Il recent rain, when the
seed should be sown either broadcast
or in drills, and slightly covered. If
sown in drills the labor is more at the
start, bnt less afterwards they are
more conveniently tended, and will
generally propuce double the crop that
they will when sown broadcast.
The turnip is sown in corn fields at
the last hoeing to good advantage and
we have not seen that it decreases the
corn crop any, coming so late as it
does in the season. On old lands that
have long been cultivated, it rarely
makes a remunerating crop, unless
considerable expense is incurred III the
application of lime or ashes, which
tend to drive away worms, with which
old land is infested and which sup
ply the peculiar nutriment which the
turnip requires.
In Europe the turnip is considered
a great article for sheep. The seed is
sown, either broadcast, as with us or
in drills, and as soon as the crop ap-
proximates maturity, portable fence
is placed so as to divide portion of
the field from the remainder, and the
sheep are turned in to devour the crop
on the ground. When the turnips that
are within the pale are all devoured,
the fence is moved, and an additional
section included, and so on until the
entire crop is consumed. The advan-
tages are secured in this way, viz: the
labor of harvesting is obviated, and
labor of conveying manure TO the field
by no means an insignificant con-
deration-saved. The best English
mutton is made in this way.
When a farmer has large flock Of
breeding ewes, probably the best veg
etable he c8h cultivate for them is the
English Turnip. Fed to these ami
mails during the last stages of gesta-
ton, and literally for week or so
after parturition, the turnip appears
to have much more prompt and sal
utary effect in promoting the secre-
tion of milk than the potato, without
its physical properties. Before par
turition, however, it should be fed but
sparingiy, as a large quantity would
induce too copiOus a flow of milk, and
tend to produce swelling and disease
in the udder. Where turnips are Civ
en- once or twice a day, even in small
quantities, free use of salt, or mix
ture of salt and ashes-say one part
of the former to two parts Of the lat
ter-is recommended.
In our climate, turnips could not be
fed where they grow. later than No
vember or December, but till the hard
frosts come, we think they might be
fed advantageously in that way.
IN. E. Farmer.