Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-12

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lent idea among farmers that roots could
not be proftably grown at the present
prices for labor, said that if the cultiya-
ton was done at odd intervals, the cost of
raising roots could be made far less than
is generally supposed. He thought the
profit of root growing would depend upon
the selection and preparation of the land,
the fertilizers used, and manner of their
application, choice of seed, cultivation,
harvest hnd care of the crop and the
manner OF feeding. Mangolds were much
easier raised than carrots. lie found
them also surer crop than turnips. Had
raised carrots at the rate of eight hundred
and up TO thousand bushels per acre. Ia
his experience with carrots, mangolds and
turnips, as feed for mich cows, the
carrots yielded a less quantity of milk.
He had, therefore, discontinued the feed
ing of carrots to COWS, and used them
| specially for his horses. For this purpose
he regarded them a profitable crop and
nearly as valuable as oats when fed in
connection with hay and grain. They
give tone to the system, keeping the animal
in good health and heart.
Turnips and mangolds he finds are ex-
cellent feed for mich COWS and ewes with
lamb. A half bushel of these roots once
day to COW is fair mess, but as they
produced an abundant flow of milk, he
would feed little grain or middlings, to
keep the animal in strength and condi.
ton. In raising carrots it was impor-
tant to have loose, mellow soil and free
OF weeds. 1t is great mistake to plant
carrots on weedy land. 1t is the weeds
that make this crop an expensive one 10
grow, and he thought that it was on ac-
count of an improper selection of land |
that so many failed TO find carrot raising |
remuEerative. His plan was to break up |
green sward and plant to potatoes, using |
no nanures the first year. The next sea- /
SON manure heavily and set TO cabbage |
If the cabbage is cultivated thoroughly, |
the land will be left free of weeds and /
will be rich enough~for carrots the next
year without further manuring. To save /
expense in the culture of the crop, it was /
important to do away with hand labor as
far as possible. He would, therefore,
SOW the seed IN drills, two feet apart, SO
as to use the horse hoe. The plants |
should be thinned out in the rows to five
inches apart. In this way carrots could
be grown at profit. He cultivated the |
German sweet turnip, and preferred that
variety, because it was the best with
which be was acquainted for table use.
The turnips brought him from eighty
cents to one dollar per bushel in the
markets.
Mr.. Shull, of lion, thought mangolds
could be grown at half the labor of car
rots. A suitable soil was essential to both
and turnips. 1t should be loose
and mellow, and upon such soil they are
easily raised. Turnips could not be
grown successfully on a damp clay soil.
He planted in drills three feet apart,
thinning out to eight or ten inches in the |
rows. A cultiyator or horse hoe could |
hen be used, leaving little to be done
With the hand hoe. lie had raised turnips
fen pounds. He estimated the
cost of the crop, charging interest on
7alue of land, the manure, labor of cult
rating, harvesting, etc, at twenty cents
Der bushel. For feeding he found them |
worth twenty-five cents per bushel.
Mr.. Shull said the average yield of |
Swedes in England was at the rate of
wenty eight to thirty-three tons per acre.
IN Scotland the average yield was stated |
% be from fourteen and half to eighteen !
ons per acre, and in Ireland about |
thirteen and half tons. The Scotch |
cultivate in ridges twenty-seven inches |
part, the plants ten TO fifteen inches in
he rows. He stated that Mr.. Brodic, of
Inffprcnva hol II l
urnips at the rate of 1900 bushels per
Icre, and at cost of two cents seven
nils per bushel. Mr.. Gibson, of York
Hills, New York, estimated the cost of
aising at seven cents per bushel, the use
u land not charged in the account.
As TO the feeding value of roots CON-
pared with good hay, Mr.. S. gave the es-
innate of r. S. Fay, of Massachusetts,
hat three hundred and fifty-nine pounds |
or five hundred and fourteen ]
pounds of common turnips, or two hun
ired and seventy-six of carrots, or three |
hundred and eight pounds of Swtd, s {
we're equal in value for feeding TO one
hundred pounds of hay. Mr.. Shull re-
ierred TO a statement made by Mr.. Leavit
IF New Hampshire that Swedes were
better adapted to sheep and cattle than
nangolds. He sows the seed in drills
wO feet apart and thins the plants to one ,
DOT apart in the rows, using wood ashes
IN the young plants TO keep off the fly.
Mr.. Willard referred to the statement
made by Hon. Henry Lane, of Vermont,
It the recent meeting of the Vermont
Association, in regard to the =
american improved imperial beet This
rarieiy has been found to be very pro-
iuctiye and more nutritious than any 9TH
r varieties of roots grown in Addison ]
county. 1t is especially adapted to mich
,ows and to ewes with lambs, as it pro- ]
luces an abundant flow of milk. The
oil best suited for this variety of beet is
clay or clay loan, the yield in Addison
county being at the rate of twenty-eight
o thirty tons per acre. Mr.. Lane esti-
mates the cost of raising at eight cents per
Dushel
Several other members of the Club
ave it as their experience that roots could
,e grown at profit, and that this char
.cter of food was of great importance in !
the health of stock, and in Sc
.uring good returns. These statements '
rom practical farmers show that the root I
.rop can be grown much cheaper than ]
many here supposed, and dairymen will
10 well to give the subject attention.
PurdL NelU Yorker.