FIELD CROPS. 



137 



thinned G to 8 in., and the rows were 27 in. apart. Harvesting was begun 

 Sept. 13 and continued weekly until Nov. 1. 



In 1905 the experiment was conducted on clay loam soil in poor condition, 

 which in 1902 and 1903 had produced oats, and in 1904 soy beans. The land 

 was manured in the fall with from 10 to 12 tons of cow manure per acre. It 

 was plowed 8 in. deep from May 2 to 5. It was harrowed and limed with about 

 1.200 lbs. of unslaked freshly burned lime per acre. The lime was slaked to a 

 fine powder and then spread and harrowed in, after which a dressing of 240 

 lbs. of 12 per cent available acid phosphate, 120 lbs. of 16 per cent available 

 dried blood, and 120 lbs. of muriate of potash was given. 



In 1906 the soil used for this work was a Dunkirk clay loam which had been 

 in corn in 1905 and in tipiothy for several years previous. It was plowed in 

 the fall and limed, and manure was applied at the rate of 10 tons per acre. It 

 was brought to a good tilth the next spring and given an application per acre 

 of 120 lbs. of dried blood, 240 lbs. of acid phosphate, and 120 lbs. of muriate 

 of potash. The seeds were sown on May 15 and 16. No late sowing was made, 

 as the results of the 2 previous years were not favorable to late sowing. 



A summary of the results for the 3 years is given in the following table : 



Yields per acre of fresh and dry suhstanee of different root crops. 



Crops. 



Mangels 



Half-sugar mangels. 



Sugar beets 



Carrots 



Rutabagas 



Hybrid turnips 



Turnips 



Kohl-rabi 



Cabbages 



Parsnips 



1904. 



Fresh 

 sub- 

 stance. 



Tons. 

 20.8 



9.6 

 17.1 

 21.4 



5.6 



43.8 



Dry 



sub- 

 stance. 



Pounds. 

 4, 726 



3,181 

 3,074 

 3,561 



6, 206 



Fresh 

 sub- 

 stance. 



Tons. 

 26.2 

 29.6 

 26.9 

 16.8 

 25.8 

 24.7 

 20.9 

 22.3 

 29.0 

 8.0 



Dry 



sub- 

 stance. 



Pounds. 

 5,800 

 6,580 

 8, 120 

 3,720 

 4,820 

 4,120 

 3,880 

 4,480 

 3,640 

 3,240 



Fresh 

 sub- 

 stance. 



Tons. 

 23.9 

 23.6 

 20.7 

 11.3 

 26.0 

 18.1 

 12.1 

 20.0 

 22.5 

 8.1 



Dry 

 sub- 

 stance. 



Pounds. 



4,940 

 5,180 

 6,060 

 2,500 

 5,100 

 3,400 

 1,980 

 3,660 

 4,140 

 3,020 



Average. 



Fresh 

 sub- 

 stance. 



Tons 

 23.6 

 26.6 

 23.8 

 12.6 

 23.0 

 21.4 

 12.9 

 21.2 

 31.8 

 8.1 



Dry 



sub- 

 stance. 



Pounds. 



5, 155 

 5,880 

 7,090 

 3,134 

 4,331 

 3,694 

 2, 680 

 4,070 

 4,662 

 3,130 



Sugar beets gave the highest average yield of dry matter, but the difficulty of 

 harvesting them seems to offset this advantage. Mangels and half-sugar man- 

 gels stood next in yield of dry matter and were closely followed by ruta-bagas 

 and cabbages. It is stated that the greatest economy would be practiced by 

 growing cabbages, ruta-bagas, and mangels in succession for harvesting and 

 feeding, more especially for sheep and swine. The results show that a profit- 

 able yield of stock feed may be harvested in average seasons from practically 

 all of these ci'ops and that a greater average yield of di-y matter may be 

 obtained from mangels, half-sugar mangels, sugar beets, and ruta-bagas than 

 from an average yield of corn, although at not quite so low a cost. Mangels 

 I)roved more succulent than sugar beets, were easier to harvest, and also kept 

 better during storage. Turnips are considered useful for early feeding, but 

 were found not to yield as well as the other roots and were more liable to be 

 attacked by disease. The yields of carrots and parsnips were not sufficiently 

 large to warrant general planting for stock feeding. Notes on harvesting, stor- 

 ing, and feeding roots are given. 



Culture and varieties of roots for stock feeding, S. Fraser, J. AV. Gilmork. 

 and C. F. Clark (.Yoc York Cornell St a. Bui. 2U, pp. 79-122, fiffs. 29).— This 

 bulletin discusses the culture of roots, describes the leading varieties, and 

 reports the experience gained with this class of crops at the station. 



