The Indianapolis journal., 1903-06-16
FARM AND
GARDEN ~
INTERESTS

Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
The root crops are greatly overlooked in
this country, but in Europe no farmer
would expect success without the aid OF
turnips, beets carrots parsnips or pota-
toes, for il is well known that under very
favorable conditions 1000 bushels may be
grown upon an acre, though such yields
are exceptional, and the averages are much
less. In England much of the literature
devoted to agriculture is of stock raising
and root, or bulbous, crops. When 1t is
considered that the English farmer pays
an annual sum for rent equal to the cost
of farm in the United States, and that
he makes sheep and turnips pay all the
expense. it should encourage our farmers
to give more attention to the mutton breeds
of sheep and to the advantages Of the root
crops as food for stock. Farmers should
carefully select seed from thes best varie-
ties, and also from the best plants, as well
as make comparative tests, in order to
determine the most suitable varieties for
each particular farm, as we'll as the quality
and also the yields. BY so doing the varie-
ties can be greatly improved. In fact, by
selection the farmer can double his yields.
and also secure varieties especially adapted
to his farm. There farmers living who
can remember when the tomato was small
and watery. and they have noticed wonder
full changes in corn, wheat, oats and other
plants that have been made by selection.
The root crops have also been improved.
for every year new and better varieties
offered, but more work is before those farm
ers who are willing TO improve in that di-
rection.
The improvement of farm root crops
mangels, turnps, etc-should be done with
regard to diminishing the amount of water
contained therein and increasing the pro-
portion of starch, sugar and protein. Ex-
periments made in England show that all
of water, which in itself is valueless, and
some varieties are claimed to contain water
to harmful degree. In the root crops a
small deviation in the percentage of water
materially affects the feeding value, as a
ton of one kind may contain twice much
solid matter as a ton Of another variety
1t is an advantage, as well as a necessity,
therefore. that the farmer ascertain the
weight of the solids in a crop. This he
can do by sending samples to the state
experiment station. The specific gravity
and the specific gravity Of the juice is a
guide to it's feeding quality. Hence. when
the density den is highest in both the juice
for feeding Is the greatest The farmer
| can easily ascertain these facts without the
aid of the experiment station. but the sta
tion can assist him In arriving at knowl-
| and mineral matter contained. The proper
tion Of sugar In roots Is important as the
more sugar the greater the value of the
roots as assistants In fattening the ami
mails. The farmer who knows something
of the value Of roots may secure a more
valuable crop with less yield than from a
| larger crop that contains a low percentage
of solids and an excess Of water, and he
should, therefore, endeavor to become thor
oughly informed in that direction.
Roots add value to all other foods because
of the fact that during the winter, when
dry food is the rule, the of turnips,
beets or carrots gives a change from the
| dry ration to more succulent kind. Di-
| gestion is. therefore, promoted, and all kinds
| being more thoroughly digested and assim-
| Hated. Cooking roots for stock is not now
| practiced. compared with formerly as in
| ventors have introduced slicers, pulpers,
| which prepare such foods for stock with
| but little labor and with rapidity thus plac-
ing before the farmer of to-day advantages
which he should not overlook. 1t Is some
| what late for putting in crops Of beets and
carrots, but July is the month for growing
| turnips. Since much injury has been done
crops in some sections this year by drought
and floods. the farmers who may give their
| attention to turnips will largely recover
| their loss of feeding material The turnip
| crop is now one of the cheapest produced
| on the farm considering the large yields
| that are possible, as seed drills, wheel hoes
and hand cultivation enable the grower to
| put in the seed and keep down the weeds
with as little outlay per acre as for corn.
The turnip Is a summer and fall crop, and
can be grown in a short time. The growing
| of but an acre of turnips will provide the
| farmer In the winter season with a food
| that is valuable from a dietary point of
view, even If 1t Is low in solids and con-
| tains large proportion OF water.