The daily gazette., 1877-08-08
GROWING TURNIPS.

The earlier the seed is sown the larger
they will grow; good turnips are some
times grown with seed sown as late as
August 10. The best time is about the
middle of July for rutabagas. The cul-
ture of rutabagas is very simple, aud
only consists in cultivating and hoeing
before the weeds or grass get any head
way until the turnips shade the ground;
usually twice going over will be enough;
they Should be thinned SO as TO stand
about six or ten inches apart. The seed
is sewn most easily by machine which
can be so guaged as to make the thinning
a simple affair. One pound OF seed per
acre Is ample. We do not know that all
farmers will succeed IN teaching their
horses to eat rutabagas and thrive upon
them, as DR.. Loring of Salem had done,
but for milch cows in Winter they are
most useful; moderate ration, a peck
at a time, fed after milking, does not in
iure the quality OF the milk, and is
kneely reIished by the cows and al
though the chemists tell us the turnip is
not very nutritious, all stock feeders
agree that cattle fed upon them thrive
better and relish other fodder better for
having them. They act upon the diges-
tive apparatus of the COW much As fruit
does upon that of men; we can live with
out it if need be, but we relish our food
better and enjoy better health and spirits
when we can get plenty of fruit. So let
us provide the cattle with plenty of tur-
nipS. The fiat turnin is far inferior both
in keeping and nutrItive qualities, but as
is costs less to raise it, and as it can lie
raised upon places where the Swede will
not grow, il will be well not 10 neglect it
if We can't get in Swedt> enough. IL Is
sown broadcast and covered with a bush
or rake after clearing a crop of early
potatoes, July - to August 10, or in the
corntield or pickle field or any vacant
land where nothing else is wanted. 1t is
not recommended to sow IL with grass
seed, for II the turnip> grow large they
will iDjure the grass. One of the obsta-
Giles in the way of using more turnlp, is
the difficulty of keeping them; the ruta-
baga will keep in cold, dry cellar, piled
four feet deep, but the flat turnip should
be either put in shallow piles not over
eighteen inches deep, or in pits made for
the purpose out of doors. The PIT made
in dry place near the barn by splitting
the land with the plow large enough to
hold the crop when piled in a long
pyramidal heap six feet wide at the bot
tom and three feet high in the middle;
after ploughing, the loose earth is shove
led out at each side; the turnips are then
dumped from cart and piled in the PIT
in conical heap, packing them evenly;
a light covering of about an inch of
leaves or straw is thrown over them and
over this is just enough earth TO cover
up the litter well, say two inches air
holes must be left in the covering every
ten feet or so in the length of the heap
at the top. This will keep them till
severe frosts sets in, when more litter or
leaves must be piled on to keep out the
frosts, and in very cold weather the air
holes stopped. The turnips keep thus
fresh till Spring if needed, and can be
taken out ter barrels or more at time
when wanted and taken to the cellar for
use; care must of course be used to cover
up the pit well after it has been opened
All kinds of roots can be stored in this
way, and many kinds will bear piling
four or five feet deep without danger OF
heating, as beets, mangolds, carrots, etc.
-"M assachusetts Ploughman.