ROOT CROPS. 253 



The tubers may be planted in the same way as pota- 

 toes, as early in the spring as is convenient. The 

 rows should be three to four feet apart. The crop 

 can be cultivated in the same way as corn until the 

 stalks have made a fair growth. The food value of 

 the tubers is low, and often it is not profitable to dig 

 the crop and store the tubers. The stalks may be cut 

 with a mowing machine and the tubers plowed to the 

 surface and eaten by pigs turned in the field. Hogs 

 will dig them from the ground. They are not injured 

 by frost. Usually enough of the tubers are left in the 

 ground to continue an abundant growth the next 

 season. The surface may be leveled in the springy 

 and, after the crop has fairly started to grow, by the 

 use of the plow or cultivator the plants may be killed, 

 except in rows. Farmers have often complained of 

 the difficulty in getting rid of the crop, while it has 

 given little trouble to many others when the land was 

 planted with some other cultivated crop. 



There are several varieties, differing in size, 

 color and shape of the tubers, but little attention has 

 been paid to selection or improvement of the tubers. 



