The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-03

Roof CRoPs.-We again have to COM
mend to the attention Of our readers the
cultivation of some of the various root
crops for which our soil aud climate are so
admirably adapted. A correspondent
gives his experience on small scale.
With couple Of ounces of beet seed he
raised from small patch some one hum
dred and fifty bushels of roots for his
stock, and believes that he can raise fifteen
hundred bushels to the acre. The value of
these to the health and milking capacities
of mich COWS there cannot be doubt !;
and if farmers during the past year had
generally avaled themselves of their adj
vantages how many head of cattle would
have been saved from the disastrous effects
of the long, cold winter through which we
have passed, delaying as it did the usual
supply of carly grass, upon the chances of
which too many improvidently rely.
Beet, Carrots and Pasnips should be got
ten in if not convenient to get them all in
select either that may best suit your taste
or fancy, and endeayor to get it in by the
middle of May at farthest, and as much
earlier as possible. We have heretofore,
we believe, given instructions for their cul-
turc and the manures suitable for them.
The Mangolds require three to four pounds
,of seed per acre, which should be soaked
twenty-four hours before being drilledin or
sown, the water drained off and ashes
mixed with the seed when the plants make
their appearance they should be busted
with a mixture composed of ashes, SCOT
and plaster in equal parts and in less than
a couple of weeks, or when the roots are
strong enough, thin out all the plants but
one. They should stand foot apart in
the drill. Clean oSt the weeds and stir the
earth between the rows, and repeat these
operations until the leaves are large enough
to shade the earth. Very large yields, al
most incredible in amount, are obtained
under ordinary favorable circumstances,
and no farmer who has stock of any kind,
but particularly cows, should fail to raise
80 nourishing and grateful feed for them.
Sugar Beet, cultivate in the same way as
recommended for the Mangolds. As an al
ternating food, particularly for horses,
Carrots are very serviceable /; it has per-
ceptibly favorable effect upon their hides.
A peck chopped up and mixed with hit
tie corn meal or chopped oats make an ex-
cellent feed, and horses will thrive and be
kept in better condition by it than would
a mess of one and a-half gallons oats each
meal twice day. But as general rule,
let it be borne in mind that it is decidedly
best to feed all kinds of stock with cut hay
tor straw mixed with the roots. The
quantity of seed per acre for carrots is
from two to three pounds, to be sown in
drills fifteen inches apart, and four inches
deep treat the seed the same as mangolds
and parsnips. The seed before being
soaked should be rubbed between the
hands mixed with sand. The culture Of
Paysnips is the same as for Carrots, except
that the burrows should be run twenty
inches apart.
Pumpkins. These should be planted
carly, ii possible not later than the 10th.
In making the hills put in each shovel OF
rich stable or barn-yard manure !. when
you have planted the seed give the hills a
busting of SCOT, ashes and plaster, and let
this busting be continued while after the
plants are up, and while the dew is on the
vines keep them clean and hunt and de-
stroy the striped bug which infests the
pumpkin vines; decoction of sulphur
Scotch snuff and plaster will fix their Tint
Tor them. Pumpkins are excellent fol
mitch cows as succulent food, to be fec
with their other supplies of hay and cu
straw.