52 



Deep Ploughivg. — Root Crops. 



Vol. v. 



far the best colour. The two pieces of corn 

 side by side, the rows ran the same way, and 

 the difference was so strikingr, that a person 

 would certainly have thought that there must 

 have been a difference in the time of plant- 

 ing of at least one week, besides a difference 

 in the soil ; it all had been tended in one field 

 and by the same man, the previous year. 



It is well known that the small fibrous 

 roots of vegetation extend to a great depth 

 in the earth, where the soil is loose and deep ; 

 and where vegetables thus take root they are 

 much less affected by drought, and likewise 

 are found to stand the hot weather better; 

 \nd vegetation upon sliallow ploughed soils 

 ,akes root but a very small distance into tl^e 

 earth. The soil being turned up to the ac- 

 tion of the sun and air, becomes enlivened, 

 better fitted for producing vegetation, and is 

 greatly increased in depth. 



It is a great error among cultivators in the 

 west, to suppose, because we have such a 

 rich, deep, and strong soil, that we need no 

 caution or skill in its cultivation, for the pur- 

 pose of preserving or increasing its fertility. 

 It is our opinion, and we think that we are 

 not alone in this belief, that our soil, with all 

 its natural productiveness, can be made to 

 produce a much larger amount of profit per 

 acre than it now does, by a skilful cultiva- 

 tion. 



Should it not, then, be the aim of agricul- 

 turists to seek to make such improvements in 

 their science as will tell admirably to their 

 honour and profit 1 In passing through differ- 

 ent parts of country, in this state, we have 

 seen this truth strikingly verified, and have 

 been convinced of the fact by actual demon- 

 stration. — Western Prairie Farmer. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Root Crops. 



Sir, — x\ writer in the Albany Cultivator 

 has given us his experience on the culture 

 and use of the sugar beet as food for cattle, 

 and is one of those who have not found that 

 crop equal to their expectations for this pur- 

 pose. His communication is highly import- 

 ant, and deserving serious regard ; and a 

 careful examination into the cause of such 

 wide differences, in the accounts which we 

 have before us, on the subject of sugar-beet, 

 as winter food for stock, ought immediately 

 to be gone into, by those who are competent 

 to the undertaking. It must be confessed 

 that such discrepancy is remarkable, but, I 

 do not doubt, on reflection and examination, 

 we shall find the cause of it to be not more 

 wonderful than that relating to the use of 

 lime for agricultural purposes; which, while 

 some have experienced it to be of instantane- 

 ous and permanent benefit to their soils, oth- 



ers, quite as competent to form a judgment, 

 and by experience also, have had ample cause 

 for dissatisfaction ; it is, therefore, but to go 

 fearlessly, and without prejudice, into the ex- 

 amination of the subject, and, if it be con- 

 ducted with fairness and coolness, I have no 

 doubt the thing will come out right at last. 



It has long been suspected that, for the pur- 

 pose of making sugar, some soils are unsuit- 

 able for the growth of the beet, for on such, 

 but little saccharine matter has been obtained 

 on examination ; and it is, I think, but fair to 

 conclude, that for the purpose of stock-feed- 

 ing also, such roots might prove of inferior 

 quality. Now, this unfitness may arise from 

 many causes — first, from the variety of the 

 species; second, from the nature of the soil; 

 third, from too early sowing in a hot and dry 

 climate ; fourth, from the nature of the ma- 

 nure — long and unfermented, for instance, in 

 a light and dry soil — and fifth, from permit- 

 ting the crop to remain in the ground afler it 

 has attained its mature growth, the climate, 

 particularly in this country, inducing a second 

 vegetation — as we sometimes see in potatoes, 

 and even wheat, which, we are sure, from 

 experience, will detract greatly from the 

 quality of such ; second vegetation being al- 

 ways accompanied by fermentation, which, all 

 sugar-makers know, is destructive of the 

 saccharine principle. Deterif)ration is also 

 brought about by fermentation in the cellar, 

 or other places, where the roots are kept dur- 

 ing winter, and this might be caused by heat, 

 or, on the contrary, frost, which, on thawing, 

 might conduce to their destruction, and ren- 

 der them quite unfit as food for cattle; for 

 it cannot be denied that they are impatient 

 both of heat and cold, although easily pre- 

 served when proper means are adopted for 

 their protection. 



On the suitableness of soils for the growth 

 of the sugar-beet, every one, at all conver- 

 sant with the subject, must have observed, 

 that the taste of the root, while growing on 

 some soils, has been found peculiarly hot and 

 disagreeable ; while on others the roots are 

 so mild and sweet flavoured as to be one of 

 the most delicious vegetables for the table ; 

 now, is it too much to suspect, that as great 

 a difference will be found, while feeding 

 these two qualities of roots to the cattle] 

 This nauseous flavour I have never witnessed 

 stronger than in roots grown in the sands of 

 Jersey, when the manure has been the hot 

 and dry dirt from the streets of Philadelphia ; 

 where they have attained, however, to a very 

 great size and fine appearance ; and I could 

 not but attribute this hot and pungent flavour 

 to these circumstances: whether justly or 

 not, remains to be shown by farther examina- 

 tion. 



Chaptal informs us, in his book, " Chemistry 



