FARM CROPS. 167 



Roots Versus Cereals. " The present high price of 

 cereals is a factor in favor of the production of root 

 crops. If corn meal continues to be worth twenty 

 dollars a ton or more, economy in the production of 

 roots would be indicated, while, if the price should fall 

 to ten dollars a ton, corn meal would probably be the 

 cheaper source of concentrates. The serious handi- 

 cap to the raising of root crops is the fact that, with 

 present cultural methods, a large amount of hand labor 

 is required. The point of view that it is desired here 

 to emphasize is that while roots may not be economi- 

 cally raised as a substitute for silage or other coarse 

 fodders, it may be economical to raise them as a partial 

 substitute for concentrates, particularly the cereal 

 grains." 



Mangel Wurzels, often called mangels, is one of 

 the most popular of the root crops, because of the 

 large yields obtained and its feeding value. Experi- 

 ments show that mangels give better returns with 

 dairy cows than turnips, carrots or sugar beets. 



Varieties. Some of the principal varieties of man- 

 gel wurzels are the Mammoth Long Red, Golden Tan- 

 kard, Red Globe and Yellow Globe. There are sev- 

 eral varieties of mangel wurzels which are the result 

 of crossing with the sugar beet, and are called half- 

 sugar mangel wurzels. According to Bulletin 244 

 Cornell Experiment Station: "Two half-sugar man- 

 gels, Vilmorin Half-sugar Rosy and Carter Half- 

 sugar are recommended as suitable stock to use for 

 breeding American strains. Sugar beets, although 

 rich in dry matter, are generally so much more ex- 

 pensive to harvest that the writers are not prepared to 

 advocate their extensive use for stock feeding." 



Climate and Soil. The mangel is adapted to a cool 

 climate and a moist soil. The North Atlantic States 

 are especially adapted for the growing of mangels, as 

 the season is short and the corn crop is uncertain be- 

 cause of the early frost. Root crops may be grown 

 in the South in the late fall or winter when the land is 



