846 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



CIRCULAR LETTER SENT PRIOR TO HARVESTING THE CROP, 



Agriculturai- Laboratory, 



440 Lonsdale Street, 



Melbourne, 17th March, 1904. 



Dear Sir, 



I hope that the beet seed you received from me last spring has done well. I 

 should naturally like to know the results of the experiment. Seed was sent out last 

 year by me to more than 400 farmers. Inquiries are being daily received as to the 

 treatment of the crop, etc., ana as it is impossible for me to reply to each individual, I 

 am forwarding you a few particulars by circular letter. 



The beet should be now fit for feeding. The yellowing of the leaves will be the first 

 indication of the crop having reached maturity. It is the practice of many of the 

 Maffra growers to allow the crop to remain in the ground through the winter, pulling 

 the roots as required. This practice appears to be adopted in preference to digging 

 and storing. There is an increase in the weight of the crop, with in many seasons, 

 not a sufficient decrease in the total sugar per acre to condemn the practice for feeding 

 purposes. 



It is a mistake to think that the beet can be fed in very large quantities and ex- 

 clusively to dairy cows. It is too fattening for that purpose, and would produce troubles 

 in other directions. It should be fed in conjunction with some dry food. The practice 

 of many of the experienced Maffra growers is to feed in a pulped condition in com- 

 bination with chopped hay or straw. Much better results in the feeding of the roots 

 will be obtained by giving in a pulped condition. The roots, owing to their large 

 content of solid matter in comparison with the mangel, are hard on the teeth of the 

 cattle, and are objectionable in other ways. A pulper or slicer costs little, and will be 

 found to be a valuable adjunct on any dairy farm. I am forwarding reprints from a 

 French work which will give an idea of the form of both a slicer and washing machine. 

 It will be found essential to wash the beets before feeding to stock. In the early 

 autumn this crouble might be avoided, but after the first autumn rains, the beet throws 

 out a number of small fibrous roots, and certain soils adhere very badly to these. The 

 washing machines are simple in construction and might be made on any farm. The 

 principle in each case will be readily understood by examining the diagrams. A port- 

 able form is to be preferred as the roots can be readily moved to a position most 

 convenient for washing. The stationary form is the simpler in construction, and 

 consists of a perforated trough falling back on hinges in a tank partly filled with water. 

 The beets are placed in the perforated portion, and after contact and stirring with 

 water are tipped out by raising the handle of the trough. 



This information is given to assist the farmer in the handling of a crop, which, 

 while entailing a little more trouble in growth and preparation than the mangel, sur- 

 passes that crop considerably in its content of solid matter and nutritive value. With 

 a few trivial adjustments, many of the objections raised to the adoption of the crop as 

 a fodder will, I think, disappear. Fed with judgment all stock, especially pigs, will be 

 found to do well on it. To lessen the cost of labor, ploughing out the roots instead of 

 digging is advised. 



I should like to have your opinion on the beet as a food for stock. 



FRED. JNO. HOWELL, 



Chetnist for AgricuUitre, etc. 



