The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-06-27
FARMERS DEPARTMENT.
Root Crops.

That the farmers of Kansas, who make
stock-raising specially, would find the
raising of roots for feed paying invest
ment, we are confident. Carrots. beets,
mangel wurzel, turnips, etc. flourish finely
here-especially with little manure to give
them a start. Read the following, from
the American Agriculturist and the Kansas
Farmer:
Try FEW RooTs.-Were animals COM
petent to advise as TO what should be grown
and stored for their winter sustenance, there
would be a unanimous etuest for at least
few carrots, turnips, or bets, to be fed with
the dry hay which must form the staple
diet. This request shouts be freely granted
mot merely in kindness to dumb creatures,
though that is something. 1t makes man
feel pleasant to witness the welcome which
attends the distribution of an occasional
Juicy breakfast to stock that have been long
ing for something succulent. Variety of
food promotes appetite and growth, as we'll
as pleasure to the animal palate. 1t is also
no small help to the hay NOW and grain
room to have well-filled bin of roots to
draw FROM Although a given weight of
grain will add more pounds of flesh than
the same amount of roots, yet larger
quantity of food per acre can be secured
from the latter. Fifty bushels of corn Is
above the average yield; with fair cultiva-
ton, twelve hundred bushels of mangel
wurzels can be produced. and much more by
proper manuring and tillage. But there is
less need than formerly to urge the cultiva-
ton of root crops, particularly in the older
settled portions of the country.
There is yet time to put in winter sup
ply of ruta bagas, beets and carrots. White
turnips are better left until July. Sugar
beets and mangel wurzels-should be planted
Iearly the present month. Carrots head the
Hist for all kinds Of stock, including horses;
next we prefer beets; the mangel wurzel is
most productive. All roots need rich, deep
mellow soil. 1t is discouraging to an en-
terprising beet or carrot to pillow its own way
into hard subsoil. Struggling roots here
and there may find small crevice in which
to burrow, but the crop under such circum-
stances will be stunled and poor. A we'll
titled field occupied by corn the previous year
will usually be favorable location; good
dressing of old manure should be wei
worked into the soil Much labor will be
saved if the land be free from weeds. The
first crop Of these may be mostly destroyed
by blowing early. allowing them to spring
up, and then going over the whole with I
cultivator harrow. The seed should be pu
in drills two feet apart for maugel wurzels
or ruta bagas, and sixteen or eighteer
inches for carrots: nothing is gained By
crowding the ground. At the first hoe
ing, thin the beets to one foot apart, thu
carrots to six inches About four pounds o
beet seed or two pounds of carrot seed pc
, acre will be required. The after cultur
will consist in keeping the ground clear an,
! loose. Almost the whole of it can be per
formed with the horse hoe. 1t may not b
advisable to commence largely at first bu
p those who commence with quarter of a.
acre by way of experiment this year, will in
crease the size of the plot in future, partic
, ularly if proper attention be given 20 the frs
american AgriculturiSt TO
y June.
RooTs.-This is the month for plantn
sugar beets, mangel wurzels. and ruta baga:
They are all excellent food for cows an
sheep in winter, and before the grass grow
in the spring. They thrive we'll in Kansa
L soil, if planted at proper time to secuT
!; the termination of the seeds. Plant after
= good rain, and as soon as the ground is fl
l-Ransas Farmer.