302 BOARD OP AGRICULTCTRE. 



with straw and six inches of earth. Secure ventilation by 

 bunches of straw forming chimneys three inches in diameter. 

 Before winter add more earth, according to location, so as to 

 secure from hard freezing, but especially from repeated freez- 

 ings and thawings. These pits may be opened at the end 

 anytime in mild weather when the roots are wanted for feed- 

 ing and closed with a bundle of straw. 



Conveniences for storing and feeding are of the first im- 

 portance. Often stored in the house cellar and backed a doz- 

 en rods or more to the barn and fed on the ground in mud 

 and snow, it is no wonder that root culture is often condemned 

 as unprofitable. It is quite another thing when there is a con- 

 venient barn cellar for storage where they can be dumped by 

 the cart load and carried only a few feet to the cattle mangers 

 to secure both the comfort and thrift of the stock. 



In feeding to milch cows feed moderately and regularly af- 

 ter milking, salt daily, avoid decayed roots or leaves, and 

 there will be no bad odor or taste in the milk. 



Ruta-bagas are sometimes troubled with lice on the leaves 

 and clump foot or bunches on the roots. For the first sprin- 

 kle with plaster, ashes or any fine dust. Clump foot more 

 often occurs upon old land and is sometimes attributed to the 

 use of hog manure. Avoid this manure and plant upon new 

 land. 



White field turnips are sown broadcast from the middle of 

 July till August and often produce large crops. As milk 

 producers they are not considered as inferior to other roots as 

 far as quantity is concerned. They doubtless much improve a diet 

 of dry hay and straw, but their low value hardly warrants 

 the labor of gathering, topping and storing. They will not 

 injure the flavor of the milk if properly fed from the field, 

 tops and all, and in October the quality is usually very rich so 

 that we may get good milk even feeding with white turnips. 



The relative merits and advantages of the different kinds 

 of roots are worthy of brief discussion. Carrots usually re- 

 quire the most labor in culture and harvesting, but they keep 

 well, improve the quality of the milk and beef, and are rel 

 ished by all kinds of animals. 



