Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-08
General 9srirulture.
For the vEREOHT PARnEa.
ROOT CULTURE.
BY VIM. 5. THoRP. ESQ.

NJ WMs .. ThOhr, ho0.
When the All-Wise Creator created the
animal kingdom, he also created the vegeta.
bic for the sustenance Of the animal. He
also arranged the seasons In the spring
time the grasses and other vegetation spring
forth and grow, which. while in their green
state afford the very best feed for all herb
eating animals and stock. But after matur-
jty the grapes become worthless, the seed aud
stalk become subject TO decay, hence some
thing must needs be done To supply the nat.
ural demands Of stock. III.
Grain being species Of grasses the nour-
ishine substance that is contained in the
green state goes to perfect the seed. 10
Vermont our winters are 30 long and severe
We are compelled to furnish much for the
support Of our stock This has generally
been done by securing our hay crop aud by
saving the straw OF grain which we have
raised. Too many times these compose the
winter feed for our stock. However good
the grasses and grains may be in their green
state for our stock, the qualities and cohdi.
tions are changed in their dry state. For
the thrift and development of animals 1t is
necessary to change their feed. 1t is well
known fact, that Il We feed one kind Of fod-
der for any length of time the animal will
not thrive but often will die. This sug-
gests change of feed, and indeed it is ab-
solutely necessary for the growth aud thrift
Of the animal to change its feed occasional
ly.
1t is true that by feeding the different
grains through the winter with our hay aud
other coarse fodder we can keep our stock
in good condition but the Vermont far.
mer cannot always afford to feed grain tO
produce meat, unless it be in particular
cases neither is grain as natural feed as
roots, Especially are roots adapted to the
feeding Of young stock and breeding AMI
mails.
In Europe, where agriculture is carried
on as a science, and where land is worth
from $500 to $500 an acre for farming
purposes they not unfrequently raise 80 oil
100 acres Of roots, aud more or less accor
ding 70 the size Of their farms Il speak more
particularly of Engandl. Since the intro
duction Of root culture land has doubled
aud quadrupled in price, according to itl
capacity for producing roots. All the sue
cess aud prosperity Of the English farmer il
founded on the production Of roots in con
nection with the rotation Of crops. 1t
really the starting point in their system
rotation.
The farmer knows that if he succeeds il
producing good root crop he is sure Of th,
remainder OF his crops in rotation (ClimatiC
influences exceptedl
While making my late visit TO Englan'
the best authority could hnd admitte
frankly that their root crop was the depeu
dence Of England in producing her mea
As seven-tenths Of her meat was fattened OF
turnips This | make mention OF becaus
the prevailing opinion among farmers i
America generally is that turnips Are wort
DOthing for fattsning purposes inasmuch
they contain a large per cent. OF Wate
However large the percentage Of water 0or
} tanned in the turnip, they are admitted b
J many TO be the most healthy and cheap fee
for cattle that can be used by the Agricu
turist to produce meat. In England the
, have the advantage over US inasmuch Z
their climate will allow them to let the
. stock run out on the turnip patch all winte
. without any shelter aud without much fea
:. Of the turnips freezing enough to injul
: them. The way in which they manage.
TO have movable fences and fence off
: portion according to the size Of the flock Q
: number Of the herd of cattle they wish
, keep in the enclosure, and | would here sa
: that were VIC raising turDips on large seal
. and especially after summers drouth, v
> might begin to feed them after the FIRST
October, AZ they would have grown to COZ
' siderable size by that time Of year when v
most need our fodder corn.
In recommending the cultivation OF root
expect to meet with some opposition b
some one claiming or stating the obstacle
which appear SO prominent in the first vie
Q of the case, which will admit are very s.
: rious but no more so than we already me'
/: with 10 raising crop OF potatoes,
!, II cannet be denied that the climate
I Vermont is so severe 10 the winter that
/ becomes necessary to store or house u
!, crop for the wintir usoi but II we don
. raise more than one or two thousand busl
7 sls We Cah dispose Of these without much el
Z ira trouble or store room, for most Of |
' have cellar room for that amount, yet II
J. not necessary 10 be at the trouble aud o.