, 1862-09-18
Shs farmers Ge.nsr.
Root Culture

6ooS CukSutos
Il seems to be far from settled question
in this country, 10 what exteHt the cultiva
tion Of the various kinds Of roots Is profit.
able TO the farmer. Fifteen or twenty years
ago there was . general disposition here to
initiate the practice Of English farmers, In
raising roots for farm stock but we do not
think the practice was ever entirely as sue.
cessfal here IS In England, especially with
the tuFnip, and it may be doubted whether
there Is as great an area Of ground devoted
70 tnrnips nOW, as at The period to which We
/. have referred. Perhaps the same remark
would hold good with respect to some other
root crops, especially the various sorts Of
beets raised by the farmers.
There are doubtless good reasons for mod.
Grating our anticipations respecting the cult.
vation Of turnips for cattle. Our soils are
well enough adapted TO the crop; but the
greatest drawback upon their profitable use
8 found In the severity Of our climate. We
can raise large products-six, eight, ten. or
even twelve hundred bushels per acre,-but
the severity Of the winter requires their
feeding chiefly from the cellars, and the con.
seQuent outlay in constructing these places
for protection, and the care and labor required
in building, form . serious obstacle to their
successful use. In England the mildness Of
The winters warrants the feeding Of roots
chiefly from the fields, thus saving much ex.
pense, labor and trouble. In TACT, TO some
extent, they aTe fsd directly on the ground
vksre they are grown, the sheep being hur.
died or yarded successfully on small pOr.
tons Of the field. .- -rr
There has clearly been . reaction in this
country uniavorable 70 the extended cultiva-
ton Of roots. Even the carrot, which has
much to.recommend it 10 favorable consider.
alton, scarcely maintains is ground, and by
no means occupies the place In practical hus.
bandry which it occupied few years ago.
WHISTLER there are sound reasons for this
ehangsisa question worthy Of consideration
but & seems clear that the Judgment Of the
mnsss Of the American farmers 8 against any
very large dependence upon roots for feeding
% the stock Of the farm
Afier al the experiments and trials Of
other roots, that good old American esculent,
the potato, holds It's own we'll, and Is per.
haps in higher estimation today as food for
farm stock thsn & was twenty years ago.
Wofsitnow free from disease free In fact
e. & vas twenty years ago-it would be
very extensively cultivated.
There Is great reason b believe that while
some may have erred IN going too largely
into he cultivation Of roots, still more have
gone 70 the other extreme, and failed 70 ap-
prociaie either tbeir value for stock, or their
usefulness IS preparatory crop for bring
ing the soil % high state Of improvement,
This IS especially true IN some Of the dairy
districts, where the opinion seems 70 prevail
dat nothing but hay and grass are required
foF rhe production Of butter and cheese, and
uhoro he cows get neither roots 70 eat nor
even bundle 81 straw for abednpon which
. alssp on cold winter nlghtA Thousands Of
dary farmers sadly err 10 usglecting b. raise
grain and roots in sufficient quantity iosupply
their own stock Not only would the money
devoted 70 The purchase Of feed thus Be saVed
% he hrm, but the land could Be greatly
improved By more judicious rotation, and
The nrm b made more splfsuppolting n all
iis departments.