238 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



superior to any other food for making pork ; here, 

 closing the process 0/ lattening with Indian 

 corn as giving more firmness to the pork, is pre- 

 ferred. 



The greatest enemy the pea has to encounter is 

 the Bruchus pisa, or pea-bug, which deposits its 

 egg in the young pea by perforating the pod, and 

 the larva? or grub of which remains in the peatill 

 the period of transformation. To avoid this enemy 

 some have proposed to use seed that was two 

 years old, as in this case the seed must be free 

 from the insect. Others have proposed to sow 

 so late in the season as to have the period in 

 which the bug deposits its egg pass before the 

 plant blossoms or the pod forms. To do this the 

 pea must be sown as late as the 10th or 15th of 

 June. The pea is a very hardy plant, little liable 

 to be injured by late spring frosts, and hence, when 

 intended to be" lollovved by wheat, or required lor 

 an early market, they should be sown as soon as 

 the ground can be fitted lor their reception in the 

 spring. 



ROOT CROPS. 



From tlie ftlaiiie Farmer. 

 3Ir. Holmes : — Among the improvements which 

 of late years have taken place in agriculture in 

 our country is that of the increased attention paid 

 to the cultivation of root crops. Some writers 

 when treating of the importance of root culture 

 have run into the extreme in the most extrava- 

 gant manner. Some writers have gone so far as 

 to recommend the growing of roots as the chief 

 or almost the only dependence of the farmer lor 

 the winter support of his cattle. Now this I con- 

 sider to be a theory at war with nature herself if 

 not with common sense. To undertake to feed a 

 large stock of cattle, on roots alone, through the 

 winter, is, to say the least, an Herculean task. But 

 good agriculture requires that grass crops be 

 grown ibr the benefit of the soil. The Itirmer 

 who does not often change from grass to tillage, 

 and from tillage to grass, is at war with vital prin- 

 ciples and his lands will in a short time suffer for 

 lack of fertility. To cultivate roots largely is ex- 

 cellent husbandry; but the scythe, the rake, and the 

 pitchfork should not be neglected. In No. 7, of 

 the Farmer your correspondent, "A. F." endeavors 

 to prove the superiority of corn, grain, roots, &c. 

 compared with hay as food for cattle. If a pro- 

 per rotation of crops is absolutely necessary in or- 

 der to preserve the fertility of the soil, no further 

 argument is wanted to show the propriety ol'lar^ely 

 cultivating grass crops. But let us talk of the 

 profits of grass crops as we go along. Our soil 

 and climate in Maine are admirably adapted to the 

 growing of grass crops. How much hay may be 

 raised to the acre and what is hay worth per ton. 

 Land under the hand of the skilful farmer may be 

 made to yield four tons per acre and is worth 

 ten dollars per ton to the farmer who keeps none but 

 animals of a superior quality ; to the farmer who 

 keeps inferior stock hay is not worth six dollars 

 per ton. Four tons of hay per acre, at 10 dollars 

 per ton, give 40 dollars; and when we lake into the 

 account the small amount oi'labor necessary to cut 

 and secure the hay crop,and the accession of fertility 

 to the soil J there is an income suflicient to satiety eve- 



ry calculating farmer. There is more nutriment in 

 hay than many farmers imagine ; ruta baga is not 

 worth as much pound for pound as hay for keeping 

 stock. Some farmers are to be found who think 

 that to raise roots for stock is consummate ibily. 

 Now this is running into the extreme the other 

 wa}'. Every fiirmer should grow roots to i'ecd 

 his slock through the winter and increase 1»ie 

 quantity of his hay crops by every possible means. 

 How many bushels of ruta baga are equa.' to a 

 ton of hay? say 200 bushels. This makes the 

 ruta baga worth otdy 3 cts. a bushel, if hay is 

 worth only 6 dollars a ton. But some farmers 

 have valued their ruta baga at 20, 25 and even 

 30 cts. a bushel, and then iriumphant'y told the 

 public what tremendous profits per acre they had 

 realized. I think my experience has proved that 

 a ton of good hay contains as much nutriment as 

 200 bushels of ruta baga. Now let us make some 

 calculations as to piofils ; an acre of land that will 

 yield 4 tons of hay will yield 1600 bushels ruta 

 baga which at three cents per bushel will give a 

 profit per acre of 48 dollars (not bringing labor in- 

 to the account), but suppose that l^ ton ot'hay and 

 50 bushels ruta baga will keep a cow through the 

 winter in as good, or better condition than with 2 

 tons of hay without roots ; this will raise the value 

 of ruta baga to 6 cents a bushel, and the profit per 

 acre to 96 dollars. Roots aid in digesting the dry Ibod, 

 and in that case the animal receives more nour- 

 ishment. Perhaps it may be found most profitable 

 to feed our neat stock, in the proportion of 3 or 4 

 of dry fodder to one of" roots. But ruta baga is 

 worth still more lor sheep and is most excellent 

 for horses. Three bushels ruta baga given to 

 horses will save to the farmer one bushel of oats; 

 this will raise the value of ruta baga to about 11 

 cents per bushel, and the profit per acre to about 

 176 dollars. Potatoes are much better food than 

 ruta baga, for neat slock except milch cows, and 

 and for these, potatoes are preferable if they are 

 cooked. Now let fair experin)ents demonstrate 

 which are most profitable, beets or carrots. For 

 milch cows beels and carrols (especially when 

 cooked) are excellent. Of all roots the beet is 

 most palatable ; the hog is very fond of good liv- 

 ing, the more his appetite is gratified, the more he 

 will thrive. It may be important to ascertain which 

 contains the most nutriment, the beet or the car- 

 rot, bushel Ibr bushel 1 which makes the most pa- 

 latable pork? the richest milk? which root is most 

 easily raised ? Except on light soils, I think the 

 beet will yield a greater product than the carrot. 

 I will not say at this time, what kind cf beet, 

 whether the red beet, the sugar beet, or mangel 

 wurtzel beet is to be preferred, but experiment can 

 determine the case. 



A gentleman of Penobscot county says, " Has 

 it not been proved to demonstration that beets 

 are unfit as ibod for hogs." I should be glad to 

 examine the gentleman's demonstration, and as- 

 certain whether it is really logical or fallacious. 

 Hogs in Oxford county will eat beets greedily and 

 thrive very well. Now suppose that 1600 bushels 

 of beets may be raised upon an acre, which 1 

 verily believe can be done, and if worth 12^ cents 

 per bushel to feed or fatten swine, will give a pro- 

 fit of 200 dollars per acre. To profitably raise 

 beets, carrots, &c. the soil should be thoroughly 

 cultivated and manured. I would rather hear a 

 farmer tell how Bkillfully he manages his beets, 



