The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-11-11
Storing Roofs.
Present Practice in England.

Storing Roots.
Present Practice in England.
The present practice Of growing roots fol- |
cattle food, though more widely appreciated
in this country than ever before, yet has
gained far stronger foothod in the minds
OF English cattle feeders than among our own |
farmers. Since the practice and experience
OF the British farmers cover period of many |
years, and account their method of storing |
and the preservation of roots, as detailed by |
our esteemed contemporary the Journal of |
Horticulture, cannot fall to be of interest to |
our own farm practice. Due allowance must |
be for the difference in climate and tempera.
ture between England and America.
The cost aud charges in various ways of
producing root crops are so great, that It is
OF the utmost Importance the roots should be
as carefully and economically preserved as
possible, not only when they may be required
for the stall feeding of fatting bullocks or
dairy cows, young stock, etc., but also when
they are to be fed by sheep in the open fields,
we will first consider the question Of storing
ior the winter feeding of horses, cattle, pigs,
etc, as being the most important and leading
branch OF the subject. The growth of roots
for consumption on the home farm has much
extended during the last ten or twelve wears,
In consequence of the greatly increased num-
Der OF cows kept for dairy and milking pur-
poses Mangels with a portion of carrots
upon the sandy soils are now generally grown
with view of being stored for use during
the winter and spring months, the mangels
being required for general purposes on the
home farm; but carrots are required for use
nrst, as they do not keep as we'll as mangels,
besides which, they gain nothing by keeping,
and are excellent food at any period of their
growth; whereas mangels not only keep well
but improve by keeping when properly pre-
served by careful storing at the right time.
Inc best time to commence storing mangels
on the home farm is what we have first to
consider, for these suffer more from frosts
than any other roots. The best time for
lifting mangels is from the goth of October to
the hrst OF November. 1t is, however, a
question OF early or late sowing for when
sown early the crop may be sufficiently ripe
for storing the second week of October; if
soWn late the roots will not be ripe in the
second week in November. But this matter
in late crop should not be allowed to inter-
fere with the taking up; for they will always
Keep better in heap or store if they are I'M
ripe. We have often noticed that ripe roots
sometimes decay ensues in the heap; on the
other hand, when the roots are
growing and unrpe at storing time ,every
bruise or injury the roots receive in lifting or
carting will heal in the store, because vegeta-
ton will be partially continued in the heap if
the roots have been carefully treated in tax
ing them out OF the land and preparing them
Tor the heap. 1t is common practice to let
the work OF lifting, etc., at so much an acre,
1t is, however, in such cases often done yery
roughly and without sufficient care. After
pulling the roots, which should be done by
hand, instead of cutting off the greens we
prefer to have them twisted off, because the
heart bud of the plant is then left entire
and the bottom Of the strong succulent leaves
are also twisted of. We find the roots al
ways keep best in this way, because they
strike out some greens in the heap, and in
fact, partially vegetate, which is quite suffi-
Gent to heal any bruises they NAV have re.
ceived at the time of heaping. Again, when
the leaves are twisted off there are no stumps
OF leaves left as there is when cut off, neither
is there any fear of damage To the roots by
the decay OF leaves or portions Of leaves. We
never allow knife to be used either for cut
ting of green's or rootlets, as the latter are
necessary to nourish the bulbs in heap, nor
do we object to portion OF earth adhering to
the nDrous roots; but when the heaps are
opened and trimmed in readiness for the
cutter, the earth and trimmings should be
preserved as manure for when artificial ma
nures are used as well as yard dung for the
drop, there will always be found portion of
the manure attached to the small roots,
amp quite enough to pay for taking care of,
but in case OF field feeding of sheep it should
be spread on the land; if at the homestead
for bullock feeding it should be added to the
manure heap. At the time of lifting the
crop, we prefer to carry to the heap or store
the roots as fast as they are taken out of the
ground, and we never think of leaving any
pulled roots in the field at night time. be-
cause we often night frosts, which would be
of no consequence if the bulbs were not pull
ed, but when they are LETT more or less ex-
posed at night they are sure to suffer more or
less damage, for that part of the bulb which
grows under the surface is very tender the
and susceptible of injury by frosts. In max.
ms stone heaps tor mangles, it is not of so
much consequence as to the size or width,
and height OF the heap, but it is more a mat
ter OF convenience or economy. The heap
may therefore be made 10 or IL feet wide at
the bottom, carried up to point at the top,
and covered with short straw, rough border
grass cut from the fields or plantations, stub
BILE or seaweed. before thatching, the latter
being the best of all coverings which we know.
requiring no thatch in addition, and less
earth as final covering. We also recon-
mend that at every two yards a small drain
pipe should be set on end at the top of the
heap, which will allow any undue accumula-.
tion Of heat to escape. The position of the
heap should be southern aspect, near to the
hedge or other shelter. After the bulbs are
carted away, the green's left on the land may
be plowed in for wheat Immediately after put
when held over the winter for barley or oats
we have often folded the sheep on the greens
pom which food they will do very well If
they have chance of pasture food as well
We now come to;carrots. These require
more nicely in the taking-up, for they cannot
be pulled by hand like maHgels or turnips.
We use for this purpose steel fork intro
duced at the side of the plants, press down
with one hand, and pull the green's perpen-
dicularly with the other, and only in this way
can the roots be lifted without breaking or
brusing We advocate the early raising of the
crop whilst the greens are full of growth, as
they are very valuable food for all kinds of
stock, especially mich COWS and pigs. The
green's should be cut of, so as not to ipiure
the heart bud, and when making the store
heap it should not be more than about four
or five feet wide at the bottom, and carried
up to point. Carrots do not require so much
covering in heeps as mangels, although the
heaps may be covered in the same way.
When required for sheep feeding in the open
fields, as they often are, upon the sand soils,
they only require to be pitted in the field in
the same manner as Swedish turnips. 1t is,
however, OF more necessity, because RABBITS,
hares, etc., iniure the crop in most extra
ordinary manner If left in the land where
they grew.
The preservation of Swedish turnips is of
the utmost consequence, and if they are RE-
quired for feeding bullocks at the homestead,
they may be treated in the act of storing the
same as mangels, taking care, however, not
to cut off the neck or stem, but to twist off
the greens as recommended for mangels.
When the crop is required for feeding sheep
in the open field, particularly when the seed
has been early sown, it is best to take up the
bulbs and cast them into heaps, which may
be covered with earth if required to stand
the winter, otherwise we often take them up
and prepare them ready for the cutter, about
or three weeks in aduanno Il tho sI,a