Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-07-16
Good Food for Stock.

Next month the turnip crop should
be seeded, and there is no crop more
important to the farmer who keeps
stock, II he desires TO produce q large
amount Of succulent food for winter use
The carrot is probably preferred to the
turnip, and potatoes are made TO supply
its place where it CAT be done but the
turnip is crop that can be grown after
it is too late to grow any other, and
it is not expensive, 30 far as the seed is
concerned, compared with other root
crops. Its rapid growth, quick germi-
nation Of seed, adaptability to nearly
all kinds Of soils, large yields and ready
acceptance BY stock give it place Oh
the farm which is recognized by all
progressive farmers, and to these ad-
vantages may be added its excellent
winter-keeping qualities, which permit
Of easy storage Of the crop at but little
expense. Experienced dairymen, even
those who grow ensilage, claim that
mess Of turnips in winter when foods
are dry and bulky, serves admirably as
a means of promoting thrift Of the ami.
mails by assisting digestion and coun-
teracting the effect Of tho continued ra-
tions Of dry provender and providing
cheap food at q cost less than from grain
As variety during the winter season is
the most important matter in stock feed
ing, the turnip crop should be a special
ty every summer.
The ground should be plowed deep
and narrowed down fine. II is upon
the narrowing Of the ground that much
Of the success depends, aud all manure
should be thoroughly decomposed. The
loose soil not only permits of the alb
sorption Of more moisture than when it
is coarse or rough, but gives the roots
greater feeding capacity. 1t has been
demonstrated by experimental tests that
manures or fertilizers containing rela-
lively large amount Of soluble phos-
phoric acid always give the best crops,
notwithstanding the fact that the turnip
is not especially rich 10 its contents OF
phosphoric acid bat it has low poser
of assimilating it from the soil and IN
less liberal amount Of that substance
is supplied in 8 soluble form the crop Is
lesseDed, bat the soil is left in excellent
condition for sOne crop that comes 10
rotation as strong feeder, such as corn
hence. 10 growing t0rnips and following
with corn there is = wholesale destruc-
ton of weeds both in summer. fall and
the succeeding spring, as the use Of
hoes and cnltivators may be necessary
with both crops. and in Kidding the land
Of weeds no better course can be pursued
than to grow turuips followed By corn.
The list of crops entering Tito the
rotation on farms is not too large, and
when turuips are admitted into the rota-
ton the land is plowed in the summer,
that one act destroying millions Of weeds.
The crop elso demands close cultivation,
aud with the exception Of damage from
the fly (Which is frequently avoided by
using plenty Of seed and sprinkling the
rows with wood ashes) the turnip crop
is as sure as any. After the plants
shade the soil they can take care of
themselves. In England the Swedish
turnip is grown and left on the ground
during the winter, to be eaten of by
sheep, and the English farmers claim
that it pays to do so. 10 this country
they are stored aud sliced, or cooked,
for the animals. BY growing turnips,
which work is done in summer, as a
crop in rotation, the labor Of the farm
is economical. the mechanical condition
Of the soil is improved and the Work Of
weed destruction the succeeding year is
reduced. A crop Of 500 bushels Of tur-
nips removes from the soil about 81
pounds Of nitrogen, II Of potash and 81
Of phosphoric acid, hence il may be fol-
lowed by early potatoes the next year
with advantage, as the potatoes require
much larger proportion Of potash.
which is left over BY turnips for future
use Considering that from 300 to
1000 bushels Of turnips may be grown
on an acre. according to the fertility OF
the soil, the cost per bushel is very
a..