Chap. 11.] Rota Baga culture. 89 



drought; for in that case, the plough cannot come to 

 supply the place of showers. The ground there will 

 be dry, and keep dry in a dry time ; as in the case of 

 the supposed half rod of undug ground in the garden. 

 The weeds, too, Avill come and help by their roots, to 

 suck the moisture out of the ground. As to the haud- 

 hoeings, they may keep down weeds to be sure, and 

 they raise a trifling portion of exhalation ; but, it is 

 trifling indeed. Dry Aveather, if of long continuation, 

 makes the leaves become of a bluish colour ; and, when 

 this is once the case, all the rain and all the fine wea- 

 ther in the world will never make the crop a good one ; 

 because the plough cannot move amidst this scene of 

 endless irregidarity. This is one of the chief reasons 

 why the ridge method is best. 



Uses of, and Mode of applying, the Crop. 



127. It is harder to say what uses this root may not 

 be put to, than what uses it may be put to, in the feed- 

 ing of animals. It is eaten greedily by sheep, horn- 

 cattle, and hogs, in its raw state. Boiled, or steamed, 

 (which is better), no dog that I ever saw will refuse it. 

 Poultry of all sorts will live upon it in its cooked state. 

 Some dogs will even eat it raw ; a fact that I first be- 

 came acquainted with by perceiving my Shepherd's 

 dog eating in the field along with the sheep. I have 

 two Spaniels that come into the barn and eat it now ; 

 and yet they are both in fine condition. Some horses 

 will nearly live upon it in the raw state ; others are not 

 so fond ol it. 



128. Let me give an account of what I am doing now 

 (in the month of April) with my crop. 



129. It is not pretended, that this root, measure for 

 measure, is equal to Indian corn in the ear. Therefore, 

 as I can get Indian com in the ear for half a dollar a 

 bushel, and, as I sell my Ruta Baga for half a dollar 

 a bushel at New York, I am very sparing of the use 

 of the latter for animals. Indeed, I use none at home, 

 except such as have been injured, as above-mentioned, 

 by the delay in the hanesting. These damaged root* 

 I apply in the following manner. 



