Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-03-04
Asrunltural.
East Summer Farmers Club.

East Samner Farmers Clue.
AT a meeting OF the Farmers Club in
this place, the following topic was dis
cusSed: Are root crops profitable TO raise?
and If So, what kind should be preferred ?
The discussion Was opened by MIR. A. j.
Robinson. who proceeded to give the re-
sult OF his experience in raising and feed
ing 10 stock the common or Ruta-baSa
turnips. He remarked that we feed too
much dry hay; that stock needs change
of food a. well a. the human species. To
produce this change, he had been IN the
habit OF feeding turnips and potatoes oc-
casionally. lie preferred raising turnips
not only from the fact that they could be
raised with less labor and expense, but
because no other vegetable leaves the SOIL
in So good condition for succeeding crops
Ii does not exhaust the essential qualities
Of the soil like oats or other grain, but 10y
reason OF its large, spreading top, IT pro
tects the ground and renders it mellow
and pliable. He recommended planting
on new and broke-up ground. Furrow
the same as for corn. but scatter old fine
manure the whole length OF the lurrow,
and be sure aud SOW wood ashes over the
manure 10 prevent the ravages OF worms
cover well. then drag stick along to
make small furrow, in which he sows
the seed. aud cover with an old broom.
At hoeinS cultivate lengthwise and cross
wise. In this WAY they can be cultivated
very easily Mr.. Robinson said he had
wintered hcS>, with good success, un raw
turnipS; for all Kinds Of stock he prefer
cd them raw He had experienced the
best results ny feeding them To- sheer.
Capt. Burrows thought the Mangel
Wurtzel beet the most nutritious; they
are swcctcr, and 10 10, contain o> much
water a the turnipS. lie had raised them
on the same ground that he formerly de
voted 10 iuruipS, ana with mole SatiStac-
tory results. Could be raised As easily Is
turuipS. Mr. CcrliSs though, that ,urnipS
could bc raised with les expense than
carrots, bU, preferred the latter for horses
Thought neat stock fed upon dry hay
would DO better with turnips occasionally.
Mr. VIM. Seweu inquired if instead of
trying 20 raise roo, crops, it would not be
better to spend The time ia improving old
grass land, by irving to raise more and
better hay and giving instead oI roots,
salt, sulphur and more mineral substances
10 stock
Mr. VIM. Downs, replied by giving
little Of army experience. lie said that
soldiers by living ON one kiud of diet, be
came affected with scurvey. The sur
gcOus gave quiuine aud other drugs. Lu,
when the man had access Ia vegetables
the complaint vanished. lie thought it
stock had a good supply of root crop~.we
should not have occasion TO give much
medicine
Other members confirmed the state
meuts above made, and the conclusion
arrived nj was. that it would paw To de-
vote more time 10 raising roo, crop-. and
that every thing considered the turuip
WAS the best 10 raise extensively.
MI \. J. Robinson after the discussion
made some eNcclleu, remarks with re.
gard to more interchanscamong farmers.
Farmers - class are too neglcctlul of
then Own interests. We must communi,
cate more try experiments and give the
result To others, study the nature of The
soil, supply ii possible the deficient ele-
meutS keep well posted on all leading
topics pertaining to the farmers pruSres-
sion; carefully investigate the new meth.
ods Of agricultural improy emeuts, do no,
be afraid 10 step ou; ct the rUt, Make
farming a science "a profession that our
sons wiil not be ashamed 10 follow: pay
for, and read good paper, Ike the Jour
nal, where The subject Of agriculture is
prominent feature, aud strive To- prof, by
the advantages afforded hy a li,c Farm
ers' Club. The mex, mcetiag va, on
Wednesday evening, Feb. .. Subject.
"Mauuyes; how 10 increase their value"
SIoltM.