Further Experiments on the Economic Value of Root Crops 549 



and feeding-stuff analyses were made by the Department of Agrictiltural 

 Chemistry. 



The objects of these experiments may be stated thus: 



1. To determine the comparative cost in seed, labor, and fertilizers of 

 the best root crops and of silage com grown on the university farms. 



2. To determine the comparative cost of dry matter produced by root 

 crops and by silage com under practical conditions. 



3. To compare the composition and total production of nutrients in 

 root crops and in silage corn varieties. 



Fig. 152. — Root crops and corn on a sandy knoll in igo8. Corn and rutabagas were 

 very good, mangels were not a full stand, and carrots were nearly a failure. All 

 had an equal chance 



The results obtained with carrots and rutabagas are not included in the 

 tabulated data of this biilletin for the following reasons: 



1. In two years out of three, the carrots showed greater sensitiveness 

 to soil conditions than did the mangels. The cost of production was very 

 high, and the dry -matter content of the carrots was lower than that of the 

 mangels. By very careful preparation and culture a fairly good crop of 

 carrots was secured the third year, but was not harvested because of very 

 inclement autumn v\^eather, 



2. The rutabagas were a great success in 1908, owing partly to weather 

 conditions. The production of dry matter was greater and the cost per 



