172 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



Purple-tufted Vetch (Vicia' Cracca, L.). — A deep-rooted and very persistent 

 perennial ; leaves with about 20 leaflets ; flowers, violet and blue, in clusters of about 

 30, but producing few good seeds; stems, slender, requiring some other plant, such as 

 rye, to support them. It is much relished by stock, and undoubtedly is an excellent 

 fodder. Of the four examined, this plant showed the highest amount of dry matter. 



ROOTS. 



In connection with a series of feeding trials with steers conducted by the 

 Agricultural Division, it became of importance to learn the respective food values of 

 certain roots. We accordingly submitted to analysis, from the crop of the present 

 year, three varieties of mangels, two of carrots, three of turnips, and one of sugar- 

 beets — the latter from the crop under (a) special culture, and (b) ordinary field 

 culture. The information thus obtained will, it is hoped, prove of interest to all 

 farmers and stock-raisers, for, as will be noticed, large differences in feeding value 

 sometimes exist even between two varieties of the same class of roots. 



Though in many parts of Canada the corn crop has to a very large extent 

 displaced roots, there appear to be areas of considerable magnitude (as in the 

 ^Maritime provinces) better adapted by reason of local climatic conditions to the 

 gv( wth of roots. But whether corn can or cannot be grown advantageously, should not 

 alone decide the question as to the culture of roots. lit is true that more feed per acre 

 can be obtained from glazed corn than from roots — and that it furni-^hes feed which 

 in a measure may replace the grain of the ration while at the same time acting as a 

 SU( culent fodder. It is also true that roots contain a large percentage of water and 

 that the 'dry-matter' is not rich in protein. Nevertheless, roots by reason of their 

 ready and practically complete digestion, their succulent nature, and what may be 

 te; med their medicinal properties — due to their richness in saline matter— have been 

 found by stock-feeders of long experience to be an exceedingly valuable constituent 

 of the ration. It is probable that they aid materially in the digestion of the rest of 

 the food, and no doubt also prove useful in the proper extension of the digestive 

 apparatus. Eoots are essentially non-nitrogenous, their dry matter having a wide 

 nutritivf- rjUion (1:8 to 1: 13), and consequently cannot be used economically, save as 

 part of the ration. 



Analysis of Roots, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, 1900. 



Gate Post Maiigel 



Giant Yellow Globe Mangel . 



Golden Tankarrl Manfjel 



Inip'd Short White Carrot 



Guerandc or Ox-Heart Carrot 



Skirvings Turnip 



Cluunijion Purple Top Turnip. 

 Rennif's Prize m " 



Sugar l^eet 'Ordinary Culture'. 

 Sugar IVet '.Special Culture'. . 



Fkksh Material. 





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