172 



ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



CHAPTER XXXI.— Root and Tuber Crops: 

 Miscellaneous Crops 



161. Hoot Crops. — The roots of several different kinds 

 of crops furnish valuable food for animals. Turnips, 

 beets, and carrots are all grown to feed animals; and 

 as they develop late in the fall, they furnish fresh food 

 during the winter months, when other fresh food is 

 scarce. Radishes, parsnips and salsify are much grown 

 in gardens, but are not used as food for stock. xAll of 

 these root crops are biennials, and their large roots 

 serve mainly as a storehouse from which the plant 

 draws its seed-forming materials during the second 

 season's growth. Root crops require great quantities 

 of water for their growth; and for their proper develop- 

 ment need a well cultivated, deep, loamy soil in which 

 the soft roots may expand and reach their full size. 

 The fresh leaves and tops of root crops contain large 

 amounts of mineral matter which the plant has stored 

 up to aid in forming seed the second season. For this 

 reason the leaves and tops should always be returned 

 to the soil; if they are not returned much valuable 

 plant food is lost. 



The soil in which root crops are growing should be 

 kept free from weeds, and must be well supplied with 

 available plant food, especially with phosphates. 



162. Tuber Crops. — The two important tuber crops 

 are the sweet and the Irish potato. The sweet potato is 

 really a root crop, but instead of having one enlarged 



