CHAPTER X. 



ROOT CROPS. 



Root crops can be said to be grown for forage 

 only when the animals which consume them are 

 allowed to feed upon them in the field where they 

 grew. They harvest them without the aid of man, 

 unless in so far as he regulates the freedom of access 

 which they are given to these crops. The variety 

 of root crops that may thus be harvested with profit 

 is limited. On this continent the chief of these 

 would be rutabagas, turnips and artichokes. Tur- 

 nips are grown to a much greater extent than ruta- 

 bagas and artichokes. 



RUTABAGAS. 



The term rutabaga (Brassica campestris) 

 would seem to be American, in its application, at 

 least, whatever may be said of its origin. In Britain 

 and Canada this field root is known as the Swedish 

 turnip. In Britain it has long been grown as for- 

 age for sheep, but it is also grown there even to a 

 greater extent for winter feeding. When grown 

 for forage it is allowed to mature before being 

 grazed off. The grazing takes place in the late 

 autumn and early winter months. In Canada it 

 cannot be thus grazed off, unless in British Colum- 

 bia, owing to the severity of the winter weather. 

 And the same is true of nearly all parts of the United 



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