Rocky Mountain husbandman., 1884-04-24

compared with grain crops which are pro.
duced by the extensive use of machinery,
In some parts of the United States the eli
mate Is too hot and dry for the best devel-
opment OF the root crops. EVERYWHERE
thelf production has been restricted by
surprising ignorance of their nature and
merits.
Some of the obstacles in the way of the
production of root crops, noted above, have
been almost entirely removed, and nearly
all have been lessened. The amount of land
at disposal has been restricted by an increas-
ing density of population, and the value of
land has increased. Labor has become
somewhat cheaper, and at the same time
new implements and new methods have
made it possible to do good part of the
work of production of root crops by the aid
of machinery.
The exclusive cultivation of grain crops
has tended to i" sicken " the land of them
and to make their production hazardous :;
while a strictly grain DIT month after
month has produced an alarming amount
OF disease among farm animals. consider
THIS one OF the strongest reasons, if not the
strongest for the production OF root crops.
Grains are fed dry, when they are indigesti-
Die, and monotonous grain diet leads to
arrangement of the digestive organs and
lack of nourshment for the body, product
i've of those diseases that originate within
and making the animal predisposed to those
diseases which are produced by minute or
ganic germs from without. On the contrary
root crops are easily digested, and being
composed largely OF fluids are apt to relieve
the clogged condition of organs, incident to
a dry grain diet.
Potatoes should properly head the list Of
root crops, but as they are extensively culti-
yated for human consumption, | shall speak
only of proper preparation tor feeding to
farm animals. speak in detail of only the
turnip, the carrot, and the parsnip.
While the root crops will flourish in al
most any soil, a deep, light, rich loarS, mod
erately moist, is the bes'. Al the the seed
bed must be we'll prepared and the cutiva-
ton thoroughly done, it is best to put heavy
or stony soils in other crops. 1t will pay to
underdrain the land, which accomplishes
two very important objects-it reduces ex-
tremes of moisture and deepens the soil. In
estimating the cost of undertaking for
root crops, il must be remembered that only
few acres are to be drained, as from 1.OOO
to l 800 bushels of turnips, carrots, or pars-
nips may be produced Oh an acre of land
specially adapted by composition and cul-
ture to these crops. The ground should be
plowed the autumn before, and plowed
deep,and liberal coating of manure should
be spread upon the ground before plowing.
But neither nanuring Or fall plowing are
essentials, though deep plowing is one; and
if fall blowing should interfere with any
preceding crop, the powing may be de-
ferred till spring. The soil for the seed
should be thoroughly fined. A liberal use
of the drag and roller will always pay.
Turnips may be sown in the spring, but
to this there are two objections spring
turnps are liable to be attacked by the mag
got, and they must occupy the ground to
the exclusion of other crops. Generally
they may be sown after some early garden |
crop or potatoes. Sow broadcast, and leave
to themselves till there is danger of freezing.
when dig them and store in the cellar or
pits.
The soil for carrots should be stirred |
deeper than for turnips. None but thorough |
ly rotted OF stable manures should be ap-
piled. Wood ashes is the best fertilizer; in |
many cases salt also gives good results |
Before planting the seeds should be soaked /
in tepid water, as they are very slow to
germinate, and weeds will otherwise get
the start of them. Sow the seed in straight I
drills three feet apart, so that they can be
cultivated with a one-horse cutiyator. Five
pounds of seed to the acre are an abundance.
In Canada and the Northern States, the
seed should not be planted before June Is.
When the plants are a fair height, thin out
till they are six inches apart in the drills.
The roots must be harvested before freezing
weather and stored the same as turnips; but
as they are peculiarly liable to rot, they
should not be stored in large bulks They
may be rapidly harvested by drawing deep
furrow close to each drill, when the roots
are easily removed.
There is no better root crop than parsnips
but one, and the only serious objection to
their cultivation is that they must be har-
vested during the busy season of spring. In
the southern part of the United States,