286 



THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



weather increases. Storing should be done as soon as possible, 

 since if allowed to lie long on the ground a loss in sugar content 

 will result from fermentation. 



359. Yields. The possible and probable yields of the differ- 

 ent classes of root crops are indicated by the results obtained 

 during two seasons at the Cornell Station. The following table 

 gives dry matter in pounds per acre from sowings made during 

 May: 



On the same type of soil the same seasons the estimated yield 

 of maize grain was 2,000 pounds and of maize silage 4,000 

 pounds of dry matter per acre. Ten to fifteen tons of sugar beets 

 and 20 to 30 tons of mangel-wurzels may be considered satis- 

 factory yields. The average yield of sugar per ton of beets in 

 the United States in 1904 was 230 pounds. Under highly im- 

 proved conditions 16 tons of beets per acre, yielding 250 pounds 

 of commercial sugar per ton or 4,000 pounds of sugar per acre, 

 may be realized. 



360. Feeding. Mangel-wurzels and sugar beets, and indeed 

 root crops in general, have a high feeding value for the amount 

 of dry matter contained. This is due to their succulence and high 

 digestibility. Extensive Danish experiments have shown that 

 the dry matter in mangel-wurzels when fed in large quantities 

 has a feeding value equal pound for pound to a mixture of 



