Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-03
Raise Roots and Pit Them.

pigs have the run OF the bare pasture,
but they should have a good clover field
and not over five shotes to the acre.
Raise Roots and Pit Them.
One great objection to the raising OF
the root crops for winter and spring feed
ing, is the supposed difficulty of winter
ing them. If they have to be stored in
the house or barn cellar. below the sta
bles, to keep them from freezing, and
carried by hand every day to the stables,
it is an expensive process. The roots are
apt to heat in large piles, and some Of
them rot. For the first time, last No
vember, we tried the experiment of win
tering beets, turnips, and carrots, i'll n
long narrow pit near the stable door, The
ground selected was q gravelly loan, ma
turally well drained. The surface soil
was removed to depth of foot or more,
about six feet in width, and sufficient
length to take in the crop. The roots
were dropped into the pit from the cart
as they came from the field, and piled in
common roof-shape, to shed rain we'll.
They were then covered with foot of
bog-hay, and a layer of earth and sods
placed upon the hay, about six inches i'll
thickness. The roots were three feet in
depth from the apex downward. Occa-
sional ventilators were left i'll the roof, to
be stopped with hay in the coolest wealth
er. The pit was not opened until Febru-
ary, and the roots came out in perfect
con 1ition as crisp and juicy in April and
in May as when they were dropped into
the pit. A frost-proof root cellar on the
same level with the stable floor, might
keep roots as well, but certainly no better,
and it is more expensive. The pit, close
to the stables, can be extemporized on
every farm, and this great luxury for cat
tie in spring time, provided by all. An
alysis does not show very high nntritive
value for the roots, but it is possible they
may add to the value of the hay, cotton
seed, and linseed meal, aud the grains
and other rations usually fed with them.
They certainly improve the thrift OF cat
tie. and increase the quantity and quality
of the milk and butter. Do not fail to
try patch of bcets this season. .--Anser-
ican AgricultWist.
| ln the Small Fruit Garden.
Strawberry plants may be set either in
the spring or fall, and unless pottel
plants are used the owner must wait Mt
least year before fruit may be expected.
The soil should be enriched with we'll
rotted manure, and the plants set in rows.
If large patch is set it is best to have
the rows wide enough to allow the pass
age of the horse and cultivator. 1t re-
quires but little more skill to raise straw.
berries than beans or potatoes. There
are number of new sorts, the leading of
which are the "James Vick" and "Man
chester" The older and well tested VA
rieties, of which the CHARLES Downing
is standard for flavor, and the "Nelson'
for productiveness, should make up the
larger part of tho bed. 1t does not pay
to run risks with new sorts, besides the
plants of novelties cost much more thar
of old well known sorts.
The old beds should be kept clear o
weeds, and given good coat OF straw o.
marsh hay before the berries form, tina
they may not come in contact with til,
soil and be injured. The white grub il
perhaps the most destructive insect pes
/ to the strawberry plant. This grub work
under ground, and its presence is no
, known until the work is done. When
strawberry plant willis, take it up, and it
= roots will be found eaten off and past re
covery. The enemy may be found neal
bv and should be removed and killed be
5 fore it has time to go to another hill an'
continue tne OBSTRUCTIVE WOrk.
+ The strawberry worm is a small, slen
, der, pale green worm that eats the leave
D full Of holes, and sometimes is quite de
= structive. The mature insect is n smal
A black ty that is more common in the ives
8 than IN the east. The best remedy sug
9 gested is to dust the leaves with lime
Q when wet with dew, or just after rain.
Q The young canes of the blackberry an,
y raspberry plants start very early. 1t
Q much better to set these plants in the au
o tumn. The next years fruit is borne o
Q the young canes of the present year, an
!, they should be looked to accordingly
o Let only eight grow to make good hill
d treating all other canes as weeds. Thos
l. that are to bear this years crop should b
d tied up, and the young growing cane
If need to be cut back after reaching suif
1t cient height. The old canes are to be Gu
10 away as soon as the berries are out of til
Ie way.
II The blackberry is troubled with borel
re the most common of which is the larva (
Ii red necked beetle (O6erea perspiceHt
s. ta) These grubs bore into the pith
~ the canes, and weaken them SO that the