178 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



less valuable than another, which must be earlier con- 

 sumed. The English turnep should be first fed, as it soonest 

 wilts and becomes pithy ; then follow with the others accord- 

 ing to their order of maturity and decay. The leaves yield 

 good forage, and if unmixed with earth, may be fed green or 

 dry 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 

 Indian corn, which generally gives a certain and highly re- 

 munerating return. It may sometimes, however, take the 

 place of corn with advantage ; and the turnep or some of the 

 other roots should always occupy a conspicuous place as a 

 change, in part, for the winter food of cattle and sheep. 



THE CARROT (Dauctu carota). 



This is one of our most valuable roots. It is a hardy, easi- 

 ly-cultivated plant ; it grows in almost every soil, and is next 

 to the potato in its nutritive properties. 



The soil which best suits it is a fertile sand or light loam ; 

 but it will grow on such as are more tenacious, if well 

 drained, and deeply worked. The success of this and the 

 parsnep, depends much on the depth to which their roots 

 can reach. Deep spading or subsoil plowing is, therefore, 

 indispensable to secure large crops, and the ground should 

 be thoroughly pulverized. Barnyard manures, composted 

 with the different salts or ashes, or chip dung, are best for 

 them. It is desirable to have the manures well rotted, for 

 the double object of killing obnoxious seeds, and mixing in- 

 timately with the soil. 



The varieties chiefly used for field culture are the long 

 red, the orange, and white Belgian. The last, under favora- 

 ble circumstances, attains huge dimensions; and from its 

 roots growing high out of the ground, it is supposed to draw 

 more of its nourishment from the air, and consequently, to 

 exhaust the ground less, while it is more easily harvested. 

 But it is considerably below the others in comparative 

 value. 



