122 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



having a large herd of cows can make more milk out of them 

 by feeding largely with roots, than he can by feeding hay, 

 shorts and meal, is not universally true. It depends entirely 

 upon his location, the character of his land, the labor required 

 to raise a crop, and upon the price of corn and fine feed in the 

 market at the time he is making the milk. I have at certain 

 times abandoned the feeding of roots to my cows almost 

 entirely, because I found corn in the market so cheap that I 

 could feed it more economically than I could roots, and I 

 simply used roots enough to keep the cows in good health. 



As to the question what root is the most economical to feed, 

 I have no doubt that Mr. Lawton is right, and that the 

 Swedish turnip is the best root that the farmer can raise for 

 all practical purposes. For young cattle, for sheep, for 

 young horses, for driving horses, for milch cows, for working 

 oxen, and all fat cattle, the Swedish turnip is the best thing 

 we can raise on our farms. I have given it a pretty wide 

 range, for I have tried it on all of them. I know perfectly 

 well that any young animal, yearling, or two-year old, can 

 be made to grow more rapidly during the winter season 

 by feeding it a peck and a half or half a bushel of Swedish 

 turnips every day, or every other day, during the winter, 

 than by any other food. It keeps them in good condition, in 

 good health, and continually growing. Mr. Lawton's ex- 

 perience with regard to feeding turnips to oxen corresponds 

 with that of others. The English farmers who feed in that 

 way produce the same results, and I have tried it in my own 

 operations with similar success. 



With regard to the feeding of the Swedish turnip to horses, 

 I believe there is nothing equal to it in the way of benefit to a 

 young horse or a working horse. I can raise a better colt 

 upon good English hay and Swedish turnips thau any man can 

 upon good English hay and oats ; and I speak with reference 

 to the value of the colt when he reaches maturity. I can keep 

 a moderately driven or moderately worked horse better upon 

 English hay and Swedish turnips, in the winter season, 

 and bring him out better in the spring, than I can upon Eng- 

 lish hay and any kind of grain which a horse will eat. I have 

 had young horses come from the pasture into my stable late 

 in the autumn, in poor condition, as colts will sometimes, 



