West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-06-06
Roots.

those farmers who never grow n croD
OF roots have missed valuable expert
cnce a good stock OF roots i'm the cell
lar at the outset of winter very much
slmplitics the business OF feeding. II
matters worry little what kinds of roots
are grown; every animal upon the farm
IS contented and happy with any of
them. And certainly the farmer who
once experiences their value will rare
~ alter be without stock of them. But
as one can not enjoy perfect happiness
without preparatory term of discipline
ana culture, so the rOot-grower, before
he achieves full success has some firth
ulation to pass through. 1t is not so
easy TO grow roots as to grow corn at
the first start of the crop-because of
the tenderness of the young plants and
Their frail hold upon the soil. ROuuh
culture will Kill them before it will hurt
the weeds; while corn, being strongly
and deeply rooted, can be hoed, AMI
even narrowed, while ii is small. with
out INJURY. IL is necessary, therefore,
that the land should be clean and rich
Tor roots; clean, shat the crop NAV not
be Smothercd by weeds or disturbed bv
their removal, and rich, that the plants
may be quickly pushed ahead of their
early weak condition.
The roots chiefly grown are turnins.
rutabagas, mangels and sugar beets. A
great deal is said and written about
growing carrots and rarsnips bv per-
sons who never grew one, but nracti-
caliy these are garden crops rather than
held crops tor the farm. They are the
most difficult of all roots to grow and
the most labOrious to harvest. because
OF their length and slendcrness and the
readiness with which they are broken.
Nor are they any more nutritious than
other roofs Notwithstanding the oft re-
peated statements 20 the contrary. OF
an Jhe roots SuSar-becis contain the
largest quantity Of nutritious substance
rutapagaS next, then mangels, parsnips
and carrots, and turnps last of all
Sugar bects and mancels are tbe most
easily grown, because they are not sub
lect to the attacks of the Gco .beoIn
which often ruins the young ;urnips be-
lore they are beyond their first leaves
ana the most easily harvested because
they grow mostly out OF the ground.
nc soil Tor roots should be we'll pre-
pared Fall manuring and plowIng are
required Tor the be results. and the
manure should be dccomposcd. and
thorough pulycrization OF the soil is in
"lsPenSable. Early planting Is required.
ana the first week i'm Nav is n Good spo-
son TO Get the seed in We have crown
eNceHent mangels and sugar be Is from
June planting. but rs the roots ars ton-
der and are Injured by early frosts. II il
VOL TO have the crop duo and on, Of
The way before there is danger of rreol-
ing, and to run no more risk than Gun
be helped. This seeding is advisable
As the seed is often far from ne onnd a.
u might be. and an even stand t. desire
pie, 10 have the rows well hllcI nm. II
IS not worth while 10 try TO TRANSPLANT
roots into vacant spaces: IL +, grea.
dea OF labor, and generally the work 10
thrown away, because the fransplaptcI
roots make but q weak growth. II IL
iar cheaper 20 use two pounds more Of
Sced To the acre than TO have MANY
vacant spaces i'm the rows. as The cost
Oh me seed IS one dollar. while Tho loss
IN inc crop may easily amount To- several
IONS through imperfect seed. Six
pounds Vt beet or mange seed 90 ihc
acre. WIN row, thirty inches apart. two
Po"h1' Oh Iutabagas on turuips. aud five
Pyuu"s on carrot, OF Par,nips are .ulf-
Gent Inc seed should b. covered a.
least one inch, aud The yro,pd over ~
Geo should be- rolled. a small seed.
seeds, and 10 covers them a. the e8roe
time. BY the help OF the drill four
acres can be sOwn iD ono day bt "a msn
on boy. The drll leave. thc .cad own
in rows hat ore marked b., the roller
o mat the space, can be worked with.
out delay by the horsn-hoc. which f.
necessary 90 ho dOrc soOl to pr.ycut
the growth Of weeds A week aCrr
planting IS long enough to do .cr tbfs
Irst cultivation. When the plants ap-
pear Do the rows they arc 90 be-
hoed ont 10 Ten inches apart A0.r
ius the whole work consists ID,
ke"ping The crop clear of weed up ~
tho time when fhc growth OF Che Icaycs
shades The ground sufficiently Ip thin
ning ou' The rows the work g. don.
very conveniently bv running han.
cuitlNator across tie rows. by which. tho
icn-iuch spaces are cuf ont very muob
more quickly Than by tho hoo IN h
lima