218 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



experienced and scientific farmer will tell us- — has told us — of 

 the enormous amount of turnips taken from an acre of light 

 soil, by using a few loads of compost manure scraped up from 

 the barnyard, and applying 4 or 5 cwt. of superphosphate ; 

 and from his own observation and experience it is much the 

 best and cheapest feed for horses as well as for milch cows and 

 working oxen ; probably corn-growing is the forte of the one 

 and turnips that of the other. But where is the proof on either 

 side ? None has been shown. Having had some experience 

 ourselves in growing both corn and turnips ; having also gleaned 

 pretty carefully from those of large experience, we venture to 

 make a few figures showing the relative money value of each ; 

 also the comparative value of the other cereals, and the value 

 of hay compared with other crops. Suppose we take the corn 

 crop as the basis, and we shall not come very far from the truth 

 when we say that the cost of labor and manure for an acre of 

 corn is the same in value as that of growing an acre of turnips. 

 Again, it is reasonable to suppose that a field that will produce 

 1,000 bushels of turnips, or 25 tons=50,000 lbs., will give 80 

 bushels of corn, or 4,480 lbs. =2^ tons. The turnip abounds 

 more in water than any other root. We have from the tables 

 of Prof. Johnson, Agricultural College, as follows : — 



Therefore we see by the above table, if it be correct, and 

 there is no evidence that it is otherwise, that the milking and 

 fattening properties of corn are to the turnip as 72 to 11, but 

 we have 50,000 lbs. turnip to 4,480 lbs. of corn, or 25 tons of 

 turnips to 2| of corn ; now 11 per cent, of the turnip — the 

 other 89 per cent, being water, woody fibre, &c, and of no 



