ROOTS. 151 



ped by a wisp of hay or straw to allow the escape of the 

 gases which are generated. 



THE FEEDING of ruta-bagas to cattle and sheep is always 

 in their uncooked state. They are better steamed or boiled 

 for swine, but their food should be sought from the more fat- 

 tening products of the farm. In moderate quantity they may 

 be given to horses, but they cannot be relied upon for them, 

 as they are too bulky for working animals. Their place is 

 much better supplied for horses by the carrot or potato. 

 Their true value is as food for store and fattening cattle, 

 milch cows and sheep, as they furnish a salutary change from 

 dry hay, being nearly equivalent as a f( d ler to green sum- 

 mer food. They should be washed before feeding if too 

 much dirt adheres to them, but if grown on a light soil, the 

 tap roots lopped off and otherwise properly secured, they will 

 not require it. They may be sliced with a heavy knife, or 

 more summarily cut up while lying on the barn floor, with a 

 sharp spade, or root slicer, which is made with a socket han- 

 dle and two blades crossing each other in the centre at right 

 angles, or by some of the numerous improved cutting ma- 

 chines. With an abundance of turneps and a small supply 

 of straw, hay may be entirely dispensed with for cattle and 

 sheep. Many of the best English breeds are kept exclusive- 

 ly on turneps with a little straw till ready for the shambles. 



THE VARIETIES of turneps are numerous. After selecting 

 such as will give the largest crop of the most nutritious roots, 

 the next object in the choice of particular varieties should 

 be to adapt them to the most economical use. Some will 

 keep much longer than others, and if wanted to feed late in 

 the season it may be necessary to take a variety intrinsically 

 less valuable than another which must be earlier consumed. 

 The English turnep should be first fed as it soonest wilts and 

 becomes pithy, then follow with the others according to their 

 order of maturity and decay. The leaves yield good forage, 

 and if unmixed with earth may be fed dry or green to cattle. 



The value of turneps to this country is trifling in compari- 

 son with that of many parts of Europe. In Great Britain 

 alone, this value probably exceeds one hundred millions of 

 dollars annually. But its culture here is much less desirable, 

 as our drier climate and early and severe winters are not as 

 well adapted to its production and economical preservation 

 and feeding as those of England, and its numerous enemies 

 render it an uncertain crop. These objections are increased 

 by the important fact, that it enters into competition with our 



