GROWING BEETS FOR STOCK 157 



ence yields the best results, and their contracts are conditioned upon 

 the use of the seed they furnish. 



BEETS AS FOOD FOR STOCK. 



All that has been said about the fitness of California soils and 

 climates to the growth of the sugar beet is also applicable to the 

 growth of beets for stock food. Early plantings of beets furnish 

 succulent food when the pastures yield but "dry feed," which is the 

 local name for grasses and clovers which make rich hay as they 

 stand in the field. Though this food is very nutritious, it is better 

 fitted for fattening purposes than for maintaining the milk-flow, 

 and for this reason it should be supplemented by succulent food. 

 By later planting of beets good supplies can also be provided for 

 the deficiency of pasture growth which occurs when the winter 

 happens to be colder or drier than usual. Thus, by planting from 

 February until June, or even later on moist bottom or irrigated land, 

 the stock feeder can have beets for his animals the year round. 



Stock beets are also useful as a succulent food for poultry. 

 By sowing in April or earlier, if local soil conditions admit, well- 

 grown beets can be had for the fowls by August, when it is well- 

 nigh impossible for them to find any wild verdure. They will help 

 themselves to the roots just as they come from the field. 



Preparation of the land is the same for stock beets as for 

 sugar beets. The plants must have wider spacing, both for the rows 

 and for individual plants, according to the size of the variety grown. 

 The long red mangel-wurzel, which frequently reaches a weight of 

 seventy pounds, and should average half that or more, needs room. 

 Three feet between the rows and two feet between the plants in 

 the row is as little space as should be given. 



Growers of stock beets often sprout the seed before planting, 

 and sow by hand, from five to eight pounds per acre, in a shallow 

 furrow, following a line set by a "marker," and cover with a culti- 

 vator or harrow, finally smoothing with a plank clod-crusher or 

 "rubber." 



Summer cultivation determines the character of the crop as it 

 does with sugar beets, and the best cultivators secure almost in- 

 credible weights of beets from rich, moist soils. The crop often 

 reaches twice that of sugar beets, and though the stock beets are 

 inferior in nutritive contents, the greater crop and the greater ease 

 with which large beets, growing a good part of their bulk above- 

 ground, are gathered and handled are held to compensate for their 

 less nutritive substance. 



Varieties. Of the many cattle beets of Europe three have 

 gained wide popularity in California: the Long Red Mangel, the 

 Yellow Globe Mangel, and the Golden Tankard. 



Long Red Mangel. This variety is the largest and produces 

 the heaviest crops, and is the best generally preferred by dairymen 



