CHAPTER XXII. 



ROOT CROPS. 



The cultivation of root crops for use in feeding farm 

 animals has long been advocated by intelligent farmers, 

 practiced by a considerable number with satisfactory 

 results, but has never become common over any con- 

 siderable area in the United States. In Great Britain 

 and in parts of the European continent root crops are 

 very largely grown; often one- fourth or more of the 

 cultivated area of farms of large size will be in roots. 

 In parts of Canada their cultivation is more common 

 than in the United States. 



Large crops of either of several kinds of roots can 

 be grown; they are palatable and healthful food for 

 all classes of farm animals. While all are watery the 

 total yield of dry matter is large. The long winter 

 feeding season over much of the country makes some 

 succulent food very desirable. These and other points 

 in favor of extensive field culture of roots have been 

 urged for many years, but without effecting general 

 practice. 



The climate of the United States is not the best for 

 root crops of any kind. They do best in cool and 

 moist climates. Their most successful culture requires 

 a good deal of hand labor, which is relatively high- 

 priced in this country. The ease, certainty and cheap- 

 ness with which food for live stock can be secured by 

 the growth of Indian corn is a chief reason for the 

 lack of popularity of root crops for stock feeding. 

 The growth of the practice of preserving corn in silos, 



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