Afjriculture of SkropsJiire. 



15 



vetches or bare fallow instead. I should decidedlj advise the 

 growth of vetches or rape where the root crop is decreased, 

 because the same objection does not apply here. There is no 

 mechanical injury done to the land by the removal, and the land 

 is decidedly enriched by the crop being fed upon the surface at 

 a time of year when there is no injury produced by the treading 

 of sheep. 



There is another reason which operates practically, and that is 

 the absolute value of the root crop when it has to be transported 

 far. The value of roots as a food must be entirely dependent 

 upon their composition. I subjoin an analysis of the swede- 

 turnip, and to show the contrast I have added an analysis of 

 linseed cake. 



Swede Turnip. Linseed Cake. 



Moisture 89-26 .. .. 12-44 



Oil or fatty matter . . 

 Flesh-fornnng princiiilcs 

 Heat-givinp;; substances 

 Mineral matter 



0-2 

 1-443 

 8-474 

 -623 



100-000 



12-79 



27-28 



41-36 



6-13 



100- 



Now it is evident that in drawing home 10 tons of swedes 

 we draw home 9 tons of water and only 1 ton of food, and hence, 

 if we multiply the cost of roots per ton by 10 we have the expense 

 of the food we are using, for it is on the solid matter of the food 

 we must calculate the value, for the water can be added from the 

 pump. A reference to these analyses shows very clearly that 

 the matter when dry is very inferior to linseed cake in point of 

 muscle and fat-producing matter, and my own belief is that their 

 value and relative cost approximate. If such is the case with 

 the swede, with how much more force does it apply to the 

 common turnip. The expen.se of removal from the ground, and 

 the carting of the manure back again to the land, becomes a 

 matter for serious consideration on the heavy land of this district. 

 In many instances the growth of root crops appears to have been 

 carried beyond a profitable point. The practice of this district 

 shows a decreasing growth of roots, and if this is met by an 

 increasing breadth of green crops, which can he consumed on the 

 land, then the latter will more than compensate for any loss. 

 This loss of winter food has to be met, or else the system must 

 be modified to meet the change. If a substitute can be found in 

 the purchase of artificial food to be consumed with the straw of 

 the farm, then it is clear there is no great difficulty to overcome. 



I must not here be understood to advocate an entire cessation 

 from growing turnips, but rather to keep their cultivation within 

 such limits that the cTops can he removed without destroying the 

 benefit of the summer's tillaye operations ; for if more food is wanted 



