Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-12-18
Roots for Stock Feed.

Roots have become necessity, with
progressive farmers, as winter food for
stock, and their great value in this con-
nection should commend them to those
who have not sssayed their cultivation.
Even the owners Of work and driving
horses in the large cities, where no opPor-
tunity is had to raise them, annually buy
hundreds of bushels of carrots, mangel
vurtxels, turnips, &C., to be fed In con-
nection with grain food to their horses,
and they arc well assured of the pro6ta-
bleness of using them, for the animals are
always sleek, fat, and glossy in appear
snce, and never become hide-bound or
siekly.
The sheep, cattle, and swine, too, come
in for a share of the roots in winter, and
no farmer who has right to be called
one should think of neglecting the cult.
walton of roots for his different kinds of
stock. There is scarcely farm, on which
the farmer makes living, which is not
large enough to make it profitable to grow
from one to two acres or more of carrots,
mangel wurtIels, etc. II they have not
been grown this season, by all means pur-
chase some. If the markets are carefully
noted, it is often possible to buy cOmPar-
atively large lots at very moderate figures.
He who goes without them deprives his
stock of something they really need. be-
sides not realizing the same amount OF
value from the food consumed that would
be obtained if few roots were regularly
fed to tone the system and keep the ami
mails sound and healthy.
In storing roots for winter feeding, new
er use the house cellar for the purpose,
for the smell which will continually arise
from them and pervade the entire house
will not only be unpleasant, but may lead
10 sickness. A barn cellar is the most
appropriate place, though we have kept
large quantities out of doors. in mounds
made for the purpose. We select high
piece of ground, on which we put light
sprinkling of straw; on this the heap OF
roots is put, say about fifty bushels in a
heap, after first carefully removing the tops
or leaves. After the pile has been nicely
rounded up, spread light covering OF
straw on them and then put on the earth
or soil carefully to the depth of SIX or
eight inches, first making chimney" at
the extreme top, with wisp OF straw
placed upright, 10 afford ventilation. By
taking the soil from Immediately around
the pile for covering the roots, better
drainage is afforded and they are kept
free from wet or dampness. After the
soil has all been put on which is neccess'
ary, 90 over the heap and pat it down
nicely with the back Of the spade, TO make
it shed the rain without washing away any
or but little. In this way We have KEEP
carrots, beets, parsneps, turnips and man
gel wurtzels the entire winter. We alwsy'
took one heap at time, when wanted iol
use, and conveyed all TO the barn, to 1
dark place free from frost. When thu
lot was used up, We tackled another heaI
in the same way.
If the roots are kept in light and air!
place, they will soon shrivel up or rot
and lose much Of their value as stock feed
After the heap has been finished an'
packed down with the spade, it is goo
plan TO cover with few inches OF oil,
straw or fresh litter from the stable, whic
will prevent heavy rains from washin
the earth down. A better substance /
long rye straw placed around the moun
and tied at the top, as this will shed mos
Of the rain, and if drainage Is properl.
provided for, no trouble need be appreheu
! ded CIR. Practical Farmer.