The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-05-26
THE FARM.

NUTRTTIvE VALUE OF DIFFERENT
CRoPs-A subscriber of the american Agri-
eulturists in Ulster county, N. Y, writes:
81 would like to know, 1st, the fattening
properties contained in carrots ruta-baSas,
mangel wurzcls, turnips, oats, and corn; I'd,
how many pounds CT each are equal to one
hundred pounds of hay?" We would like
to know, too; but the question is sur
rounded with so many difficulties that no
one has yet been able to give an entirely
satisfactory and definite answer. The tables
given by Professor Johnson in the appendix
to "How Crops Grow" showing the
"Proximate Composition of Agricultural
Plants and Produce" furnish the latest and
most reliable data to be obtained. But
volume is required to explain them, and
this Professor johnson will give US in due
time. We may, however, assert that, of the
roots named, carrots are the most nutritious
mangel wurzels next, and nearly equal to the
carrot; ruta-bagas next, worth, perhaps,
twenty per cent. less than mangel wurZel;
and turnips, worth one-third less than ruta-
bagas. We cannot say how many pounds
of carrots are equal to bushel of oats or
hundred pounds of hay, any more than we
can say how much bread is equal to q pound
of beef or gallon of oysters. Those who
pretend to give definite answer on this
subject are little better than quacks We
must take into consideration the question of
digestion; of the importance of concen-
trated nutriment; and of the adaptability
of the food to the kind of stock. The mere
fact that one food contains more nutriment
than another proves very little in regard to
! no l1a I . o ,I,.p oc
one hundred pounds of hay concentrated
into fifty pounds of hay, the fifty pounds
would be worth much more than the one
hundred pounds Grain and the better
class of roots are, consequently, from the
fact that they contain a less quantity of
crude, indigestible material, of much more
value than the mere amount of nutriment
that they contain would indicate. And
hence it is that we so frequently insist on
the Importance of producing rich grass and
hay. A farmer should never raise turnips
when he can raise good crop of ruta-bagas,
or ruta-bagas whenhe can raise good crop
ofmangel wurzel or beets. The advantage
of the auEnip lies in the fact that We Can sow
it late, =aRd it requires less manure: and
when fed out early in winter it affords food
at aeomparatively cheap rate. But to COM
pare crop of common white turnips with
goed crop of mangel wurzel is like COM
pairing crop of buckwheat with one of
Indian corn. Both are good in their place.
american Agrieulturist.
GRATING PoTAToEs.-The mode of op-
Grafton is to take two potatoes, one of. each
variety, the good qualities of which it is
wished to combine. With pocket knife cut
all the eyes clearly out of one of them, and
substitute in their places the eyes cut out of
the other. The eyes to be inserted should
be sprouted and cut in the form of wedges,
and inserted into cuts of the same shape and
size in the other potato; they are held in
place by hair pins, and bound with bass
mating or Irvine. The fit must be exact
and the rind feacl must just meet. The
grated potatoes are then to be planted. AS
some OF the gratis may fail, it is well to ope-
rate upon dozen or mere sets at time.
The produce of these grated potatoes are
to be kept separate and planted out the fol-
lowing year, when their qualities will be
proved. Many varieties will sometimes re-
suit from grating only two kinds into each
other, and the results are said to have as
tonished the originator of the system, as
two reds shave produced white potato"
Kidneys and rounds, grated into each 9th
er, produced rounds. notified and Kidneys,
differing from both parents.
STICK TO ONE THINe.-There are MANY
farmers who do not stick to one thing long
enough to make it pay and consequently
they lose in everything. At one time they
conclude to devote themselves to stock-rais-
ing. Before they fairly get Roadway in this,
they change their minds and 90 back to
raising grain. Some again make speciality
for time Of certain crop-wheat, corn,
or potatoes, for instance. While they are
following thus speciality, the crops may be
small and the prices low, and they turn to
another just in time to miss large crops and
good prices In what they have left. The
best farmers, We have observed, are those
who hrst find out what their soil is best
adapted to produce. They then turn their
energies in that direction and 30 straight
forward in that line A poor crop does not
discourage them. They go on, and are sure
to be finally successful =. .,r5at
CoLORING BUTTER. When yellow color
ed butter is desired in winter without the
use of anatto, which is not desirable com
modify in butter, carrots may be substitu-
tuted. Take two large-sized carrots. clean
thoroughly, then with the knife scrape off
the yellow exterior, leaving the white pith:
soak the yellow part in boiling milk for ten
or fifteen minutes. Strain boiling hot into
the cream this gives the desired tempera-
ture, colors 1t nicely, and adds to the sweet
ness of the butter.
Carting on sand. to render heavy or
clayey land lighter, may seem like labori.
Gus and costly process, but for gardening
purposes it pays well. The sand does not
disappear like manure, but stays there un-
altered, and must remain there for all time
to come. -. ;.