Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1876-07-08
The Ruta Bagga as II Food for
all Stock.

Enron Southern CULTIvAToR 10 one
who has cultivated, appreciated, and utilized
this crop for many years. (aud after so much
has been written and known OF its valnel, II
is often a matter of surprise and regret to see
much Indifference and neglect manifested To-
wards it by great body of our planting
community.
Years ago. practical mind in the British
Pertinent asserted that England could better
afford the loss of her magnificent navy than
the annual benefit and value Of this great
stock food and that the returns Of the two
interests, in real value, were moi 10 be com.
pared Probably no country has so perfected
and improved it in yield and quality, and an
nualy expends more fertilizers and mannres
in its production. The statistics Of the amount
of commercial fertilizers used in this one
CROP, annually, to us. seems almost incredi
Bile, but this only proves its value as source
of wealth. In the cultivation Of this plant
here, we only reverse our seasons Of planting
an, cul,iya,ing it to some extent. In those
mora north ,rn ans, colder climates, the seed
is pu, in the ground in May, and planting
usually closes first Of June. to secure tue PEI
f,,, dtvelonement of the plant before colo
weather-where, after feeding. through the
autumnal months, TO sheep, Coded on Tie
groundl large quantity Is housed WIN great
labor and care for winter use.
Our crop should be planted from The latter
part of July on through August i have
made fine Ruta Baga planted the last OF Sep.
tember, where the winters were mlid ana
fayorable-The best time, however TO secure
an early crop, and a sure one in this latitude
IS through July and August. And what
makes il the more valuable with us, It need
not be housed and protected after being made
Cold winters that freeze and rot other varie'
ties of turnip rarely injnre this. And, II the
tops are eaten oil By sheep carly in the spring
they will remain sound in the ground, I'LL
June, after giving tender sprouts for table use
before other garden salads come IN. One
can hardly be cxtravagant is his estimate aud
praise Of this Plant, after giving It many years
trial. And, though planting il so long,
never realized fully its value with us till ias
winter, when I fed il nd libitum" to cattle
sheen and bcgs, aud nv mules would moi
refuse to eat them, as change from thei'
continual feed of corn and fodder. Hogs
with very hule grain, will thrive well on
them. And now, being compelled TO keep
enclosed all stock, to Keep j: from being dep
redated upon, and from depredating upon
our crops, we must learn to use the cheapest
food, and that raised with the least labor. As
we more perfectly domesticate our stock by
feeding in close quarters, we change and i'm
prove, somewhat. their taste for those things
which, in semi wild condition, they would
refuse to eat, and really starve upon, With
the diffusive system Of stock busbandry, as
well as planting, (under the old slave regime
now shattered and destroyed, y we must build
I'D the future again with other means and
resources kind Providence has given US.
We are not poor, if we will appreciate and
u,ilize the many crops Of our climate with
our soil) will produce through every month
in the year and this crop can be made to
extend as valuable food crop through six
of the hardest and most expensive, with Us
In stock husbandy. As TO the manner Of
planting, think there is but one good, sure
way TO secure the greatest yield.-Breaking