New-York tribune., 1870-08-06
WHAT | KNOW OF FARMING.
BY HORACE GREELEY.
xxx.
ROOTS. .TURNIPS-BE
XXX.


nally and benefcenty increasing its annual product
l judge that time viii prove them mistaken The
striking diversity of climate between the opposite
coasts Of the Atlantic forbid the realization of their
hopes The British Isles with considerable portion
of the adjacent coast of Continental Europe, have
climate modified by the Gulf Stream and the ocean
that their Summers are usually moist and cool,
their Autumns still more So and Their Winters rarely
so cold to freeze the earth considerably; while
our Summers and Autumns comparatively hot
and dry Winters in part intensely cold, so as to
freeze the earth solid for a foot or more. Hence
every variety of tunp is exposed here in tenderer
stages to the ravages of every devouring insect;
while the list of December often finds the soil of all
but our Southern and Pacific States so frozen that
cannon-wheels would hardly track it, and roots not
previously dug must remain fast in the earth for
weeks and often for months. Hence the turnip can
never grow so luxuTianty, nor be counted on with
such certainty here as in Great Britain ami
mails be fed on il in Winter except at the heavy cost of
pulling digging cutting off the tops and carefully
housing in Autumn and then sciDg and feeding out
in Winter 1t is manifest that turnips thus handled,
however economically, cannot compete with hay and
corn fodder in our Eastern and Middle States nor
with these and the cheaper species of grain in the
West as the daily Winter food of cattle.
Still, hold that our stockgrowing farmers profit
ably may and ultimately WILL grow some turnips to
be fed out to their growing and working animals.
A good meal of turnips given twice a week, if not
oftener to these will agreeaby and usefully break
themonOtOny of living exclusively dry fodder and
will give relish TO their hay or cut stalks and straw
which cannot fail to tell upon their appetite, growth
and thrift. Let our catte-breeders begin with grow
ing an acre or two each Of Swedes per annum so as
to give their stock good feed of them, sliced thin
in an effective machine at least in each week.
and feel confident that they will continue to grow
turnips, and will grow more and more of them
through future years.
The Beet seems to me better adapted to climate
especially south of the fOrtieth degree Of north
latitude, than any variety of the Tuuip with which
l am acquainted, and destined, in the good time
coming, when we shall have at least doubled the
average depth of soil, to very extensive cutiva
ton among us. am not regarding either of these
roots with reference to its as human food, since
our farmers generally understand that at least
as well as do nor viii here consider at length |
the use of the Beet in the production of Sugar.
value that use highly, believing that millions Of the
poorer classes throughout Europe have been enabled
TO enjoy Sugar through its manufacture from the |
Beet who would rarely or never have tasted that |
luxury in the absence of this manufacture. The |
people of Europe thus made familiar with Sugar can
hardly be fewer than 1O00000OO, and the number is
annually increasing The cost of Sugar to these is
considerably less in money, while immeasurably less
in labor, than it would could have been had the
tropical Cane been still regarded as the only plant
available for the production of Sugar.
But the West Indies, wherein the Cane flourishes
luxuriantly and renews itself perennially lie at
DOORS They look for most of their daily bread,
and for many other necessaries of lfe while several
if not all of them manifestly destined in the
natural progress of events to invoke the protection
Of our flag do not, therefore, feel confident that
Beet Sugar now promises to become important
staple destined to take high rank among the pro-
ducts of our national industry With cheap labor,
believe it might to-day be manufactured with proitn
the rich deep valleys of California and perhaps in
those of Utah and Colorado well. On the whole,
however cannot deem the prospect encouraging for
the American promoters of the manufacture of Beet
Sugar.
But when we shall have deepened essentially the
soil of our arabic acres feTtized it abundanly and
cured il by faithful cultivation Of its vicious addic-
ton to weed growing believe we shall devote mil
lions Of those TO the growth of Bcets for cattle
food and, having learned how to harvest MS well as
till them mainly by machinery, with little help from
hand labor, We shall produce them with eminent
profit and satisfaction to the grower On soil fully
two feet deep thoroughly underdrained and amply
fertilized, believe we shall often produce one
thousand bushels Of Beets to the acre; and 80
much acceptable and valuable food for cattle can
hardly he obtained from an acre in any other form.
SO with regard to Carrots. / have never achieved
eminent success in growing these nor Beets, mainly
because the soil on which attempted to grow them
was not adapted to- rather not yet in condition for
such culture. But should live few years longer,
until my reclaimed swamp shall have become thor
oughly sweetened and civilized / mean to grow on
some part thereof 1000 bushels of Carrots per acre,
and still larger product of Beets; and the Carrot,
in my Judgment ought now to be extensively grown
in the South and West well in this section, for
feeding to horses. hold that 60 bushels of Carrots
and 50 Of Oats fed in alternate meals of at least
equal value as horsefced with 100 bushels of Oats
alone, while more easily grown in this climate. The
Oat-cTop makes heavy drafts upon the soil, while
our hot Summers not congenla TO It's THRIFT or
perfection. Since we must grow oats, we must De
content import seed every 10 or 10 years from
Scotland Norway, and other countries which have
cooler moistcr Summers than our own for the Oat
will inevitably degenerate under such suns as piaZed
through the latter half of our recent June. BelcV-
ing that the Carrot may pT0ftably replace az least
half the Oats now grown in this country, look
forward with confidence to It's more ana more cAe-
slve cultivation.
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