54 MASSACHUSETTS A rRICULTURE. 



of roots are equal to one ton of hay, or, in other words, one 

 ton of hay and three tons of roots are equivalent to two 

 tons of hay when fed to milch cows. This fact has been 

 demonstrated over and over again, and is accepted and ac- 

 knowledged by many who till lately were sceptics in regard 

 to their worth. Then, when we consider the enormous 

 weight — say, from twenty-five to fifty tons — that can be 

 raised on an acre, compared with the weight of hay raised 

 on the same acre of land, it is evident at once that economy 

 will soon follow where science and health now lead the way. 

 I have had experience in cultivating only a few of the 

 many kinds of roots, and therefore I will go into details in 

 the mode of culture of only those few, leaving to others 

 who have had experience with others to give us their opinion 

 in relation to each. And first let me call attention to 



THE TURNIP. 



The turnip will grow on all varieties of soil ; but the flat 

 varieties succeed best on sandy or light loam, while the ruta- 

 bagas, or Swedes, like a heavier one. The "purple-top strap- 

 leaf" has given me the most satisfaction of any of the late 

 kinds that I have tried, and I think it the best to sow after 

 pease, early potatoes, or other first crops, are off the ground. 

 Some may question the idea of sowing the Swedish turnip 

 in rows, where it shall stand till it matures. I know it is 

 more work to raise them this way than to transplant ; but 

 you get a great deal better article. 



In regard to getting turnips too thick: if you use a 

 machine to sow them with, and it invariably puts in about 

 twice as much seed as you would wish to have grow, and so 

 makes a great deal of labor in thinning, it is easy to take 

 your seed, and divide it into two equal parts, and then scald 

 one-half of it, so as to kill the germinating power, and then, 

 after thoroughly re-mixing it, sow as usual. It is cheaper to 

 waste half of the seed than to get down on your knees, and 

 pull it out after it gets up. Turnips may be nearly all water ; 

 but there is something in them that is really beneficial to 

 young stock, dry cows, colts, and horses. I would not feed 

 turnips to cows giving milk; for we can get something so 

 much better for them at so slight advance in cost, that the 

 balance goes over the other way. 



