RUTA BAG A CULTURE 



the world will never make the crop a good one ; because the 

 plough cannot move amidst this scene of endless irregularity. 

 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 feeding 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 became ac 

 quainted 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 of 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 

 corn 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 harvesting. These damaged roots I apply in the 

 following manner. 



130. Twice a day I take about two bushels, and scatter them 

 about upon the grass for fifteen ewes with their lambs, and a few 

 wether sheep, and for seven stout store pigs, which eat with 

 them. Once a day I fling out a parcel of the refuse that have been 

 cut from the roots sent to market, along with cabbage leaves and 

 stems, parsnips, fibres, and the like. Here the working oxen, 

 hogs, cows, sheep, and fowls, all feed as they please. All these 

 animals are in excellent condition. The cow has no other food ; 

 the working oxen a lock of hay twice a day ; the ewes an ear of 

 Indian corn each ; the pigs nothing but the roots ; the fowls and 

 ducks and turkeys are never fed in any other way, though they 

 know how to feed themselves whenever there is any thing good to 

 be found above ground. 



131. I am weaning some pigs, which, as every one knows, is an 

 affair of milk and meal. I have neither. I give about three 

 buckets of boiled Ruta Baga to seven pigs every day, not having any 

 convenience for steaming ; two baits of Indian corn in the ear. 

 And, with this diet, increasing the quantity with the growth of the 

 pigs, I expect to turn them out of the sty fatter (if that be possible) 



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