Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-08

marrow Il requires very careful hand TO
hold u, lest be disturb the plants l would
not thin thssh out al the hrst hoeing. .'l
Az The second hoeing would leavo the
mangel worzels IL inches apart, beets 10
inches, parsneps 9, carrots 4, and should the
seed have proved poor and failure il will
be found very convenient TO have the ruta
baga plants to gil the vacant places. 'i'
For carrots | have sometimes mAde the
ridges % inches apart, and then have sown
two rows on the top Of the ridge at dis
tance Of four inches apart but do not think
that any advantage inasmuch as they re-
quired more wedding and care to keep them
free from weeds.
Msngolds, beets, carrots, and parsnsps
will be found to yield from 500 to 1000
bushels per acre, according to their care and
cultivation. They will be found excellent
for cows Of the dairy, as they are very
sweet and nutritious while they impart
fine favor 10 the butter; and no composition
has been made as yet that can gil the place
OF carrots for coloring purposes.
Thns far have only mentioned the kiRds
which require to be sOwn early in the spring
am aware that in northern Vermont our
spring time is so short that in some in-
stances it might seriously interfere with
some farmers in putting in their other crops,
were they to raise them. But we have ruta
bagas and the fat English turnip which do
not require so long season; and this is one
reason why | advocate the advantage of
these two crops. Since their introduction
into Europe they have completely revolu-
tionized the system of farming. Aud they
have strengthened the European farmer
more than anything else.
La my native country (which is England)
there are 22,000,000 Of people supported
upon that little island about the size Of
Pennsylvania. There farming is a science,
aud practiced with the strictest economy
which has led them to raise roots as the
cheapest and easiest manner Of producing
their meat | was assured while there that
seven-tenths Of all their beef and mutton
was produced from the turnip, either directly
or indirectly.
There is no other course an agriculturlst
eau take in which he can produce such a
large amount of feed from n certain number
Of acres as he can in root culture, nor il
this all of the advantage that arises; tur'
nips eau be sOwn late in the season, after
the sowing aud planting of other grains
have been disposed of. have often raised
a good crop of fat English turnips by SOW
ing the seed among my corn at the time OF
the last hoeing, although in raising them as
a main crop would prefer to follow siIni
lar process to that Of which have made
mention before in raising the other kiAds.
For fat English turnip, | would prepare
the land aud SOW the seed broadcast about
the 18th or Goth of June,
Owing to the lateuess Of the season and
the quick growth of thJ plants the weeds
would not have sufficient time to start much
before hoeiug the first time
At the first hoeing cut the weeds IF any
and thin the plants where too thick. A
the second or last hoeng thin them as near
ly as possible so as to leave space Of ten
inches each way.
call 800 bushels of either ruta bagas OIL
, fat turnips fair crop. | consider 300 lbs
of turnips about equal to 100 pounds o.
, good hay admitting this to be true on,
acre bearing tons of roots will equal il
! the amount of feed that which would be Sc
cured from cue acre of meadow bearing y
/ tons Of hay.
1t may be thought by some that the tur
nips, being composed OF large per cent. o
t water, would be nearly worthless. Indeed
have often heard it asserted that they ar
scarcely worth any thing for fattening puI
poses. This | don't believe. 1t matter
/ not Of what they are composed, If youn
stock thrive upon them and older stock ca
| be fattsned more cheaply by them than il
: any other manner. know q man who Il
/ the present time is fitting tor market eigh
| teen head Of large heavy oxen upon ha.
aud turnips, aud finer lot Of beef cattle
never saw.
, 1t can no longer be doubted that the far
mer must pursue the wisest course in tn
. management of his farm, in order to realiz
: the benefit Of his profession The questio
4 Of to-day should be In what manner Ca
Q we produce the most with the least expense
n and believe the cultivation Of roots woulC
s be found OF universal benefit to the farmin
y community.