The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-03-07


can the frrrfer raise, that will be the best
food to produce the most milk, butter
and cheese, and that can be raised in the
largest quantities, at the least expense
per acre, is q question often considered in
agricultural addresses, often discussed at
Farmers Clubs and has given many ar
ticles to the agricultural press. Fresh
grasses, as produced during the first half
Of the summer months, will give more
milk than any other food. Next to this,
dried grass. Grass when in blossom, con-
tains more starch, sugar, gluten and al
bumen, than at any other stage Of its
growth, and if cut at this time and prop
erly cured, loses nothing but the wa
ter it contains Grass thus cut and cured
fed in connection with roots to make the
feed succucnt, is the nearest too, if not
equal to the fresh grass, Cows fed with
dried grass and roots, will produce milk
in quantity and quality, far in excess of
what any dairyman who has not tried it,
would imagine to be possible
Does the dairyman need roots to feed
his cows, and can they be raised at cost
that will make it profitable to feed them ?
| think they can. Dairymen should turn
their attention more to the cultivation of
roots. They will find them valuable to
feed during the late fall months, and in
spring after cows come in, and before our
pastures furnish good supply of grass.
Roots are of more value than the mere
nutriment they contain. They assist the
digestive process, and enable the animals
to obtain more nourishment from the
fodder consumed, than they otherwise
would and keep them in better health,
and give them better appetites, causing
them to eat up coarse fodder cleaner.
In deciding which Of the various root
crops is the best and most valuable to
raise, we must consider the quantity
raised to the acre, the quality, and the
expense of raising the crop. Labor is
the great item of expense on the farm,
and especially is this the case, in cultivat-
ing the root crop. In raising roots we
should always plan to economic labor.
The carrot consider valuable root
for feeding young stock, but as this rootre-
quires more labor in its cultivation than
any other, it cannot, at the present time,
be raised at profit. The Swedish turn
ip, furnishes large amount of food to
the acre, when it does we'll. 1t is very
uncertain crop. The little black turnip
fly, that is on the lookout for the
first appearance of the turnip plant, will
destroy nine-thenths of them while they
have but two leaves, if the farmer is
not as vigilant as his little turnip enemy
If the turnip escapes injury until August,
and at that time assumes a vigorous ap-
pearance, it is very liable to be attacked
by the turnip plant louise. With me, one
year in three, the turnip crop will prove
failure. Another great objection to the
turnip, is the unpleasant turnip flavor
they give to the milk and butter Beets
are not liable to the attacks of that class
of insects that infest other root crop. AT
least the chances ofinjury are so few and
of so little Importance, as not to inter-
fere with its cultivation. OF the various
varieties Of beets and mangolds to raise
for stock feeding, l consider the Ameri-
can Improved Imperial Sugar Beets, and
the Yellow Globe Mangolds the best.
Last year these sowed side by side, having
the same cultivation, produced as fol.
lows The beets at the rate of forty -four
tons, and the mangolds forty-two tons per
acre. The beet consider the best feed
for dairy, and the most profitable crop to
raise.
A light sandy soil is least suitable te
the growth of the sugar beet while the va
rious loamy soils, and especially those con
tanning large proportion Of clay arc
best adapted to its growth.
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL.
In the first place all stagnant watel
either on the surface or within reach O
the roots of the beet, should be removed
by thorough drainage. Although tn,
beet required large amount of moistur,
to carry on vigorous and healthy growth
yet l know Of no plant that will show tn
presence of stagnant water quicker thai
the beet, by its assuming a yellowish hu
and sickly aspect. 1t will not extent
downward its usual length, but on reach
ing water will divide into numerous small
fuzzy roots which spread in all direction
to the great injury of the crop hence il
Incorporation of most soils and especial
clay soils, thorough drainage is necessary
Land intended for beets should be kept i
high condition by liberal application
Of fine manure at least twenty-five load
per acre. If your soil contains quite
per cent of clay it should be plowed i
the fall, as the action of the frost vii
mellow it. Avoid sowing on turf Ian
for the turf will obstruct the top-root an
and thus induce development of fuzz
lateral roots much to the injury of tn
crop. After the manuring and plowin
has been done, harrow the ground unit
mellow, ridge with the double mouldboar
pillow, making the ridges thirty inche
apart, fat down the ridges with gardc
rake. l SOW with Harrington's, or Ho
brooks seed sower, at the rate of fou
pounds Of seed per acre.
TINE OF SOWING.
With beets the success of the crop d.
ponds very much upon early sowin,
The very first suitable weather after ii
frost is out and the soil sufficiently dr.
TO be worked should be improved even
this is as early as the middle of Apr
Beets after growing to one half inch
thickness, form concentric ring or lay,
about every fifteen days; these vary
number from six to ten, depending upc
the length of the season after plantin
The oldest leaves are those at the botto
of the crown and are in direct commun
cation with the Oldest and central laye
As new leaves are formed new layers a
formed, the central leaves on the top
the crown communicative with Tho Ia