ROOT CROPS. 251 



the season at which the seed should be sown is often 

 the cause of a poor stand of the plants. 



The crop is sometimes sown among the standing 

 corn, soon after the last cultivation, especially when 

 it is expected to cut and remove the corn compara- 

 tively early in the , autumn. It may follow wheat or 

 other small grains, or a crop of early harvested pota- 

 toes. When the soil is naturally loose the surface 

 should be compacted with the roller before or after 

 seeding. 



The harvesting and storing of the crop is much the 

 same as with beet crops. Turnips are less injured by 

 freezing than are beets. 



Cattle and sheep usually eat turnips readily. 

 Horses and hogs care less for them. Feeding large 

 quantities of turnips to dairy cows sometimes gives 

 an unpleasant odor to the milk. 



CARROTS. 



The carrot (Daiicus carota) is much liked by many 

 as food for horses, and is relished by most farm 

 animals. It is especially liable to injury by dry 

 weather and its early growth is slow and feeble. 

 Careful hand labor in weeding the young plants is 

 usually necessary. This is a chief obstacle to its 

 growth by farmers generally. It gives large yields, 

 500 to 700 bushels per acre often being harvested. It 

 is less easily injured by frost than are beets. It does 

 not require so rich land as the beet. The methods of 

 culture and storing the crop are much the same as 

 those found best for beets. There are many varieties. 

 The long orange and the white Belgian are popular 

 varieties. 



