CULTIVATED CROPS 



95 



by thorough cultivation, that yields of from 20 to 40 tons 

 may be secured. Deep plowing, preferably in the fall, to 

 the depth of from 8 to 12 inches is desirable for roots. This 



should be followed by 

 very thorough disking 

 the following spring. The 

 land may and should be 

 disked several times be- 

 fore the roots are plant- 

 ed. Soon after corn- 

 planting is best time to 

 sow roots but rutabagas 

 and turnips may be 

 sown as late as midsum- 

 mer. Root crops are 

 usually planted in drills 

 from 24 to 30 inches 

 apart, with 6 or 8 seeds 

 per foot of drill. Then 

 later the plants are 

 thinned so that they 

 stand from 6 to 8 inches 

 apart in the drill. The 

 cultivation may be done 

 by wheel hand hoes 

 when the plants are small 

 and later by horse cultivators. Some hand weeding, thin- 

 ning and hoeing must always be done. Clean and thorough 

 cultivation is necessary. 



Harvesting. — Root crops must be harvested before there 

 is danger of freezing weather. Ordinary white frost does 

 not injure root crops. Root diggers may be used, or a 

 furrow plowed with a common plow beside a row of roots 

 greatly reduces the labor of pulling. Roots must be topped 

 usually by hand and stored where they will not freeze but 

 where the temperature is comparatively low. 

 Questions: 



1. Tell if you can why the crops mentioned in this lesson are 

 called root crops. 



2. Under what conditions is it advisable to grow roots for stock 

 feed? 



Figure 40. — Cutting field roots for feed. 



