244 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



4 years at the New York (Cornell) Station 5 Minns found the cost of 

 growing and ensiling silage corn about the same per ton as that for 

 growing and harvesting mangels. However, owing to their watery 

 nature 100 Ibs. of dry matter in mangels cost over twice as much as in 

 corn silage. These findings show that where corn thrives, corn silage 

 will furnish dry matter at one-half the cost of roots or less. This is 

 largely because root crops require more careful and thoro preparation 

 of the soil and far more hand labor in cultivation, harvesting, and 

 storage than does corn. 



367. Yields of various root crops. The most extensive comparisons of 

 the yields of various root crops are those reported by the New York 

 (Cornell) Station 6 from 5-year tests and by the Ontario Agricultural 

 College 7 from trials covering 5 to 15 years, which are summarized in 

 the following table. The yields from kohlrabi, cabbage, rape, and kale, 

 which are sometimes included loosely under the term "root crops" are 

 also given, along with the return from a 200-bushel crop of potatoes. 



Yield and dry matter per acre in various root crops 



New York (Cornell) Station Ontario Agr. College 

 Green wt. Dry matter Green wt. Dry matter 

 Tons Lbs. Tona Lba. 



Mangels 39.7 8,400 23.7 4,440 



Sugar mangels 28. 1 6,400 24.0 5,460 



Sugar beets 28.3 8,000 14.9 4,890 



Rutabagas (swedes) 26 . 3 5,000 19 . 6 4,260 



Hybrid turnips 27. 1 5,200 



Turnips 16.8 3,600 27.2 5,160 



Carrots 18.5 4,400 27.5 6,460 



Parsnips 8.3 3,800 8.3 2,750 



Kohlrabi 23.4 4,600 15.8 2,819 



Cabbage 36.4 4,600 23.1 4,102 



Dwarf Essex rape 17.2 5,758 



Thousand-headed kale 17.7 4,000 



Potatoes (200 bushels) 6.0 2,540 6 . 2,540 



As is shown in the table, the rank of these various crops varies 

 widely in different sections, depending on the climatic and soil con- 

 ditions. 



368. The mangel, Beta vulgaris, var. Tho the mangel, or mangel 

 wurzel, is the most watery of roots, it returns a large amount of dry 

 matter per acre because of its enormous yield. The dry matter content 

 of mangels averages 9.4 per ct. and that of the half -sugar mangels, 

 which are crosses between the mangel and the sugar beet, is somewhat 

 higher. Because it stands well out of the ground, the mangel is easily 

 cultivated and harvested, and furthermore it keeps better in winter 

 than does the sugar beet. Mangels should not be fed until they have 

 been stored for a few weeks, as the freshly-harvested roots may cause 

 scours. Mangels are useful for all farm animals, except possibly the 



"N. Y. (Cornell) Bui. 317. 



Piper, Forage Plants and their Culture, p. 587. 



T Ontario Dept. of Agr., Bui. 228. 



