198 HOW TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



cellar. They must be cut ; but root cutters are at hand and 

 will cut all kinds of roots, pumpkins, squashes, etc. Of couise, 

 we must have corn and grain for our stock, but on expensive 

 lands near large cities, or on the lines of railroad, convenient to 

 market, roots will be more profitable. Every farmer should 

 raise roots enough to give his stock a taste every day they are 

 stall fed. Dry hay and grain sustain life, but will not give the 

 best results. . Five tons of turnips are certainly equal to one of 

 hay for feeding purposes ; and, as certainly, ten tons of turnips 

 can be raised to one of hay upon the same land. Eight tons of 

 turnips are about equal to one of corn, and twenty tons of 

 turnips to one and a half of shelled corn, is about the average 

 of the crop. Enough has been said to show the value of root 

 crops ; we now proceed to the method of culture. 



Turnips. Eobinson says, " The best soil for turnips is newly- 

 cleared forest, or reversed sod, not too clayey ; but they will 

 grow well on pretty stiff clay, if finely pulverized." Our ex- 

 perience is, that the common English turnip (which is the easi- 

 est of all root crops to grow) wants a light mineral soil, but, 

 with careful preparation of the soil, will grow well upon any 

 but heavy rich clay lands. Green manure should never be ap- 

 plied to any root crops. Well rotted compost is the thing. Or, 

 green manure may be hauled on in the fall, five to eight cords 

 to the acre, and covered in ridges, and plowed in in the spring. 

 Plow late for turnips, and sow not earlier than July. Early 

 sowing causes them to get their growth before it is time to har- 

 vest them, and the consequence is rot. October is the great 

 month for root growth. Turnips may be sown to advantage as 

 late as the last of July, after some early crop that has been very 

 heavily manured, like the early potato, or strawberry crop. 

 The turnip is not fitted for long keeping, and is only valuable 

 for early winter feeding. The Swedes, White Globe, Yellow 



