VALUE OF ROOT CROPS. 135 



c. Indian corn competes better with them. Land 

 that would yield 25 tons of turnips or 30 bushels of 

 wheat to the acre, would produce 60 bushels of corn; 

 and this, at 60 Ibs. per bushel, would give 3600 Ibs. 

 per acre, of food, superior to either of the others 

 weight for weight. 



It is plain, from the above facts, that the root crops 

 are of great value. The animal, it is true, has to eat 

 very large quantities, to produce much increase in its 

 size; but then the yield per acre is so exceedingly 

 great, as to more than counterbalance this seeming 

 disadvantage, in the comparison with more concen 

 trated forms of food. The cultivation of these crops, 

 to a considerable extent, will doubtless be found ad 

 vantageous in districts where the climate and soil are 

 well suited to them. 



The cabbage has about 90 per cent of water, and 

 much ash. The proportion of nitrogenous compounds 

 is large, about 3 to 6 per cent; so that this vegetable 

 might also be cultivated here, as it is abroad, for feed 

 ing purposes. 



I mention all of these crops, that the farmer may 

 know something of their valuable properties, and may 

 not consider himself tied down to a regular succession 

 of two or three only, such as he has always been ac 

 customed to cultivate, or to see others cultivate. He 

 ought to know that there are others which are equally 

 important, the occasional introduction of which may 

 be beneficial not only to himself, but also to his land. 



SECTION IV. OF THE GRASSES. THE COMPOSITION OF THE 

 VARIOUS CROPS COMPARED. 



There is yet one class of crops used for feeding, 

 that has not been adverted to : this includes the grasses. 

 These contain, when made into hay, about 10 or 12 

 per cent of water; in the green state, before drying. 



