Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-21
The Turnip.

Ask an Englishman what crop has been
most instrumental in building up the agricul-
ture of the tight little island, aud he will
answer: "The turnip." American farmers
may not expect, perhaps, so great returns
from this crop; for English farmers, by
reason of their mild winters, are enabled to
feed the turnip, to a considerable extent,
in the fields where grown, thus saving much
of the expense Of harvesting, We have not
yet learned by experience the full value Of
the turnip as an item of winter fodder,
especially for fatting cattle, young stock,
horses, aud sheep. The writer has in mind
dozen or more prominent sheep raisers,
however, who practice feeding turnips largely
during the cold months, and with uniform
success Their hocks are healthy. Their
lambs bring the highest prices in spring, and
they 6nd the custom far more profitable than
feeding much grain The famous Scotch beef
Of the London markets is nearly all produced
from turnips and straw; and 80 far as We
know the animals mature quite as early as
Onr American, grain fed beef,
Though horizontal farming, as DR.. Loring
defines root culture, is expensive of la Dor and
backaches, yet We are quite cert ain that
more machine labor may bo econ omicaly
employed in root raising. The expense Of
cultivation mas been the great dra wback to
the extensive growing of the turnip in this
country. Yankee ingenuity ought to remedy
this difficulty. In the matter of topping
and lifting from the soil, Tor example, the
English manufactures advertise an implement
which reports say is q real labor saving
mAchne. 1t is simple and ought to be
cheap. Some Of our enterprisIng dealers
might either import the implements or adopt
the principles involved. 1t serves for other
roots as we'll. BY its use 8 acres can be
topped and pulled per day, requiring the
labor of one man and horse. by eompar-
ing several statements. we hnd tho average
cost Of production TO be less than 20 cents
per bushel. BY improved methods OF cult.
vation, and intelligent use of manures, this
can doubtless be reduced one.half 1t is the
testimony of those who have tried it, that
turnips are worth at least 25 cents per bushel
for fodder. In the vicinity Of cities aud
manufacturing villages IN New England We
have known them to often bring IS cents
per bushe and sometimes as high as Sl.00
for table use.
If it pays to feed grain to young and fat.
ting stock, it will certainly pay as we'll as to
feed turnips with less grain. That a par.
tial diet Of roots is beneficial to animals none
will deny, aud this reason, il no other, should
direct attention to the tprnlp crop. After
diet OF corn stalks, dry hay, aud grain,
with what avidity have We all seen the cattle
or horses eat foddering OF roots Their
craving for green food in winter is akin
to that Of their masters aud we must supply
that craving or experience loss. In view
Of the prospective increase of stock fatting,
consequent upon the opening of the foreign
beef trade, beef producers will do well to
investigate the turnip as fodder crop for
extensive use.
We would draw no comparisons between
turnips aud mangolds; for it is the experience
Of many, that while the mangold is superior
for milch cows and swine, tho turnip bears
off the palm for young stock, horses, fatting
cattle and sheep,