ROOT CROPS 3OI 



best on a well fertilized, sandy soil where it makes a yield of from 75 to 100 

 bushels per acre. The tubers are planted in early spring, 1.2 to 15 inches 

 apart in rows 3 to 4 feet apart, and the only cultivation needed is to keep 

 down grass and weeds. The tubers mature in October and November, and 

 are easily rooted out by the hogs. This plant is of little value on heavy soils." l 



386. JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE (Hclianthus tuberosus L.) is a coarse, -strong- 

 growing species of sunflower, producing tubers which resemble potatoes in 

 size and shape.- The plant is almost certainly of American origin. It was 

 cultivated both in Europe and America at least two hundred years ago. The 

 plant is hardy, easily cultivated, and produces large yields of tubers well liked 

 by hogs. 



The tubers may be planted in the same way as potatoes, in rows three to 

 four feet apart as early in the spring as convenient. The land should be 

 kept cultivated until the stalks have made sufficient growth to shade the ground. 

 The food value per pound of tubers is low, and often it is not profitable to 

 dig and store the tubers. The stalks may be cut with a mowing-machine, and 

 the tubers plowed to the surface, when pigs may be turned in the field to eat 

 them. Hogs will also dig them from the ground. 



The tubers 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 spring and, after the crop has started to grow, 

 by use of plow or cultivator the plants, except those in rows, may be killed. 

 In some cases difficulty has been experienced in getting rid of the crop, but 

 ordinarily this can be done with little trouble. 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 plant. 



Practicums 



387. STUDY OF CHARACTERS OF "ROOTS." Supply students with types and 

 varieties as indicated below, and have them designate the characters which 

 are applicable. 



1. Beets 



Type: Mangel-wurzel; half-sugar; sugar. 



Shape: Long; intermediate long; tankard; globe: smooth; forked; rough: 

 uniform in width; tapering. 



Dimples: Present; absent: well supplied with fine roots; not well supplied 

 with fine roots. 



Color of skin: Red; orange; yellow; white. 



Color of flesh: White; white-red; yellow. 



2. Carrots 



Type: Taper-pointed; stump-rooted. 



Shape: Long; half -long; short: cylindrical; not cylindrical. 



Core: Large; medium; small; absent: reddish; yellowish; whitish. 



Color of skin: Orange; yellow; red; white. 



1 U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. No. 102, p. 46. 



