140 STATE BOARD OF AGEICULTUEE. 



ence. May this Institute mark a new era in our agricultural i:)rogre3s ; an era 

 in which, science and practice shall go hand in hand, bearing a harvest of rich 

 results. 



The remainder of the evening session was occuj^ied by Prof. A. J. Cook, who 

 gave his lecture on ''The Three Worst Insects of the Farm," followed by an 

 interesting discussion. (This lecture and discussion, with others, is given fol- 

 lowing this record of the Institutes.) 



FEIDAY MORNIXG. 



The morning session was opened by Mr. J, E. Hendryx, who gave the follow- 

 ing address on 



BOOT CROPS. 



The most important crop that can be raised by the farmers of Western Mich- 

 igan is the root crop ; and its great worth is doubly appreciated in seasons like 

 the two past, when there Avas a great scarcity of hay. For many years I have 

 grown, annually, a crop of yellow Swedish turnips, or ruta-bagas, and I have 

 never failed of raising a very fine crop. Of course some years are more favor- 

 able than others for their growth, still very much depends upon the kind of land 

 upon which your crop is raised. When I say it is the most important crop I 

 grow, I mean that it is the best crop for the amount of labor expended. 



In raising a crop of ruta-bagas, I insist there is but one sure Avay to do 

 it. If the weather and season and everything else is auspicious, anybody can 

 raise a good crop ; but by following the directions which I propose to give here, 

 yoii can have a good crop any season. I am going to raise a good root crop the 

 coming season whether it is wet or dry, cold or hot. I never have failed, and 

 if any of you will come to our place next season I will show you exactly 

 what I tell you I am going to do. The grand secret in growing any crop is in 

 properly fitting your ground, and the ruta-baga crop is no exception to this rule. 

 If I could have my choice I would select an old June-grass sod, of light, sandy 

 soil. If I could not have that, I would take a clover sod. The next thing I 

 would choose would be a corn or potato field, well tilled tlie year before. On 

 any such ground you ought to grow 600 bushels to tlie acre. 



Soon after corn-planting draw on your manure and plow your ground. Then 

 drag it lightly. Occasionally during the season run over it with the liarrow, 

 just enough to scarify the top and mellow the surface. Keep up the harrowing 

 at various times until the last of June or the first of July. Then cultivate the 

 ground as deep as you can without disturbing the manure. The turnip is a 

 small seed, and if the ground is lumpy it will not grow. I take a couple of 

 slabs about eight feet long, put the smooth, round side down, fasten them 

 together, and then spike on a two-by-four scantling on which to hitch a team. 

 On this lump-crusher I put a boy and let him go over the ground, which leaves 

 it perfectly smooth. About the time for sowing I watch until I think it is going 

 to rain, and then I drill them in ])erfectly straight rows, about three feet apart. 

 I take great jjains to have the rows ^lerfectly straight, not so much for looks as 

 for convenience in cultivating. We put in the seed tolerably thick, so the insects 

 can have a little. After they are fairly up we run through witli a revolving 

 blade cultivator, just enough to scarify the top of the ground. You must not 

 allow the weeds to get the start of the turnips. When the plants are up, thin 

 them out so that no two will touch each other. Don't let the turnip stop grow- 



