364 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



is one of the best means of storage for turnips; they are, however, somewhat expensive in con 

 struction, but when once made, are serviceable for many years. It is customary in some sections 

 to lay them upon the dry ground, in a locality slightly sloping to the south, in long piles like 

 hay- windrows, the piles about three feet through; they are then covered with straw about 

 six or eight inches, and earth eight or ten inches, leaving a straw ventilator every ten or 

 twelve feet. Another method is to put them in large round piles of from thirty to forty 

 bushels each, and cover in the same manner. These methods involve considerable labor and 

 some risk in freezing in extreme cold weather, which are obviated in a properly-constructed 

 root-cellar. 



Turnips and ruta-bagas are best fed to cattle and sheep in an uncooked state; they should 

 always be first properly cut before being fed to stock of any kind. They should also never 

 be fed to cattle on the ground in a yard or field, but always in the manger, where they can 

 eat them more quietly without danger of getting choked or hooked by others, and where they 

 can also get their proper share, as a few in every herd are the &quot;master spirits,&quot; and will 

 drive and fight all others when they have the opportunity. 



Raising Turnip Seed. For growing seed, the best turnips should be selected from 

 the crop in the fall, and placed apart from the others where they will be well preserved, 

 leaving an inch or so of the tops on the bulbs. As soon as the ground will admit in the spring, 

 these should be set out in land that has been plowed and pulverized, setting in rows that are 

 three or four feet apart, and from eighteen to twenty inches apart in the rows. The setting 

 should be carefully done, making provision for the end root, and covering the bulb entirely 

 with the soil, leaving only the sprouts at the top out of the ground. The plants should be 

 kept free from weeds, which will involve the use of the hand-hoe; or if a large quantity of 

 seed is to be grown, the cultivator or horse-hoe may be serviceable for this purpose. When the 

 plant s are about blossoming, it is a good plan to bring the earth up around the stalks in order 

 to give them support and keep them in an upright position. When a majority of the pods 

 have become dry, the stalks should be cut and put in some safe place to dry. It is well to 

 cut them when the dew is on them or just after a shower, as the pods will open very easily, 

 and the seed shell out; careful handling will be necessary, even with this precaution, to 

 prevent the loss of seed. Different kinds should never be set near each other, as they will be 

 liable to become mixed, and the distinct varieties thus lost. When the pods have become 

 dry, the seed may be easily shelled out and cleaned, the same as clover or grass seed. 



BEETS. 



THE beet may be used as an esculent in all stages of its growth, and is universally culti 

 vated in some of its varieties, of which there are many. There are also a few varieties 

 grown specially for stock-feeding purposes. 



Beside these uses, large quantities are annually utilized in Europe, and to a limited extent 

 in this country, in the manufacture of sugar, but whether beet sugar will ever become a 

 profitable product in America has not yet been sufficiently demonstrated to place the question 

 beyond a doubt, in the minds of many of our leading agriculturists. The different varieties 

 vary in size, form, and color, but more especially in the latter respect, although the color 

 does not seem to affect their quality. They are deep red, purple, pink, yellow, white, or 

 mottled with varieties of shades. The culture of all varieties is similar. It is estimated 

 that an acre of this crop can be grown as cheaply as the same area appropriated to potato 

 culture, but that the yield will be four or five times that of the latter, in bushels. 



The abundance of the crop will, however, depend much upon the soil and method of 



