164 Bulletin 244. 



SUMMARY. 



This bulletin deals with the culture of those types and varieties of 

 roots most suitable for stock-feeding under New York conditions. 



The seeds of the root-crops here considered are small and conse- 

 quently are not capable of overcoming adverse soil conditions. A mel- 

 low, well fitted seed-bed with an abundant supply of moisture, but not 

 wet, is essential. The land should be plowed deep in order to give the 

 long-growing roots a chance to expand in the soil. Moreover, deep plow- 

 ing insures a more uniform supply of moisture in the growing season. 

 After the clods are subdued, the last fitting should be made with a light 

 straight-disc harrow or planker in order to put the surface in garden-like 

 condition. (See Figs. 32-34.) 



Lime is almost always advantageous on soils planted to roots, espe- 

 cially for those of the best type. Lime modifies the soil texture and 

 corrects possible acidity. The quantity applied should be in the neigh- 

 borhood of 2,000 pounds per acre. It^should be reduced to a fine powder, 

 either by slaking or by pulverizing and worked in at the last fitting. 



The germination power of many of the seeds on the market is very 

 low ; thus it is important that all seeds should be tested before planting. 

 The germination power of the beet type of root-crop seeds varied from 

 ']2i to 185 per cent., and that of the other root-crops varied from 15 per 

 cent, in carrots to 96 per cent, in a variety of kohlrabi. This factor of 

 low vitality is often responsible for poor stands and poor yields. More- 

 over, seeds of low vitality may increase the cost of good seed greatly; 

 in the case of the carrot above mentioned, it was nearly seven times the 

 original cost. 



The plants should be thinned before the tops become crowded, other- 

 wise their growth will be spindling and the root system will not develop 

 properly. If their development is checked at this time, the injury will 

 be permanent. 



A marked increase in yield of root-crops has been secured by rota- 

 tion with other crops. In 1904 there was a gain of 24 tons of fresh sub- 

 stance with 3 tons of dry matter per acre in favor of the rotation. 

 Rotation has been found to be a very efficient means of restricting the 

 spread of fungous and bacterial diseases, especially leaf-spot in mangels 

 and sugar-beets, and club-root, brown-rot and soft-rot in the cruciferous 

 crops (as turnips and kohlrabi). 



The dry matter content of the mangel has not been increased very- 

 much. Indeed, it is about the same as it was 50 years ago. The dry 

 matter content of sugar-beets, however, and especially the sugar, has been 

 increased nearly 50 per cent, within the last 50 years. This fact indicates 

 that there are possibilities for the improvement of mangels and other 



