272 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



yield. In England, experience proved that after the addition of 

 more barnyard manure produced no sensible effect, an application 

 of Peruvian guano increased the yield 1\ tons per acre. An 

 application of 500 pounds of salt showed an increase of 6| tons 

 per acre. Thus we see that when the price of labor will allow us 

 to apply our manure directly under the ridges, and when the price 

 of commercial manures brings them within our roach, we can 

 force our beet crops up to 50 or 60 tons per acre. 



Cost of Raising. Without going into details, I estimate the 

 cost of labor after the manure is applied at 40 dollars per acre ; 

 the use of land and manure 40 dollars more, making a crop of 

 1000 bushels per acre cost eight cents per bushel, which I think is 

 a fair average cost. 



Value for Stock Feed. Of the various estimates of the nutritive 

 matter furnished by a crop of beets, comparing it in value to 

 good hay, I have hardly ever seen any two alike. ' Some estimate 

 330 pounds of beets, to be equal to 100 pounds of hay, while other 

 estimates place it at over 400 pounds. This difference is not 

 strange, when we consider the modifying circumstances of differ- 

 ent modes of culture, influence of soil, manures, and the modes of 

 application, variation of the weather, the absence or presence of 

 rain, and various other reasons which make the difference in two 

 samples of the same produce to be very great. Analysis may 

 indicate somewhat respecting the value of roots, but the observ- 

 ing feeder can best tell their practical value. I am inclined to 

 place 400 pounds of sugar beets as an equivalent for 100 pounds 

 of hay. Thus, a crop of 32 tons per acre would be equal in value 

 to eight tons of hay, — not that beets can take the place of hay, 

 but that 400 pounds of beets, and 300 pounds of hay, fed in con- 

 nection, are equal in nutritive effect to 400 pounds of hay. Thus, 

 if you have 24 tons of hay, bj raising 32 tons of beets, and feed- 

 ing them in connection with the hay, you increase the nutritive 

 value to 32 tons of hay, and the effect of feeeding the two in 

 connection, in the healthful appearance of the animals fed, is 

 decidedly in favor of the mixed feed. It is thought by some that 

 beets when given to cows fresh, soon after harvesting, are apt to 

 purge them and thus lower their condition, but that after storing 

 a certain time they will no longer act in that manner. This is 

 not in accordance with my experience, nor that of my neighbors. 

 Cows have been fed as early as the last of October, at the rate of 

 one bushel per cow per day, with no injurious effects. I have fed 



