116 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



and its surroundings are somewhat crude or de- 

 ficient in sylvan or floral decoration, you feel as- 

 sured that there is both comfort and plenty within, 

 and that all its inmates are ever happily exempt 

 from that conflict between pride and poverty, 

 which is so often the plague of the domestic circle, 

 -except in rural life on the well managed farm. 

 Waterloo, 2T. T. . S. W. 



CARROTS AND OTHER ROOT CROPS. 



Eds. Genesee Farmer: — In the Farmer for 

 March, " O. R." writes urging the value of the 

 carrot, and the importance of its culture, valuing 

 the carrot above other roots, while admitting the 

 high value of turnips, etc., and giving good, sensi- 

 ble directions for the cultivation. The cause he 

 advocates is a most' worthy one. The farmers of 

 all parts of the country would surely profit largely 

 by growing more roots — profit in several ways — in 

 economy, in the health of their stock, and in the 

 increased value of manure, while insuring clean 

 tillage, because a good root crop (potatoes ex- 

 cepted) cannot be grown without. But I fear that 

 he is too eager an advocate, and incline to think 

 that "roots" have been pronounced a "humbug" 

 by many who have undertaken to grow them 

 after reading just such promises as to their yield 

 and value, and that all who sow carrots with the 

 idea of getting 1,200 to 1,500 bushels per acre, 

 three bushels equal in feeding value to one of corn, 

 will be disappointed. 



First, as to the yield. Nine years trial give me 

 600 bushels as a good average crop, with clean, 

 careful field culture, plenty of manure, a good 

 sandy loam, the crop taking its place in the regu- 

 lar rotation — much larger crops, on land devoted 

 specially to this crop, and tilled like a garden, with 

 a foot of good loose soil, and manured every year 

 abundantly — in one case, 400 bushels from a quar- 

 ter acre ; but I never found another piece of land 

 on my farm that would do it. It is, however, to 

 be noted that the carrot can be grown for many 

 years on the same land if manured, with a con- 

 stantly increasing yield. 



Second, as to feeding value. Botissingault 

 makes the nutritive value of 882 lbs. of carrots, or 

 say 6| bushels of 60 lbs. = 676 of Swedes, or say 

 11| bushels = 70 lbs. of Indian corn = 100 lbs. 

 of hay — a result, I think, no farmer will acquiesce 

 in. Fresenius, 542 lbs., say 9 bushels of carrots 

 = 100 lbs. of hay = 391 lbs. of mangold. The 

 average of seven experiments in Germany makes 

 280 lbs. of carrots — 346 of mangold = 100 of 

 hay ; and four of the same set of experiments 

 average the result that 262-^ lbs. of Swedes are of 

 the same value,* the other experimenters not hav- 

 ing included this root in their lists. Let us be 

 cautious in deciding where doctors disagree, so 

 much as they do on this question. For myself, I 

 think two quarts of corn meal, or four of ground 

 oats, a higher daily allowance for a cow than a 

 half bushel of carrots or turnips, and that 8 bush. 

 of carrots are no more than equal to one of corn 

 or two of oats. On the other hand, the roots are 

 more wholesome, and have a health-giving value 

 that can not be over estimated. 



Third, as to the comparative value of carrots and 

 other roots. For young horse stock, I consider a 

 few carrots a necessary almost. For cattle, bushel 

 for bushel, 1 would as lief have Swedes; but, 'of 

 course, this is only my insignificant opinion. 



Fourth; although 1 would never be without a 

 few carrots, I prefer either the Swedes or the man- 

 golds, because I can grow these roots in my regu- 

 lar rotation, whereas carrots require rather a 

 petted piece of ground; because the culture of the 

 other roots is easy, while the carrots, owing to 

 their puny growth at first, are difficult to till and 

 easily injured; besides, they are so slow of ger- 

 mination that the weeds are apt to get the start 

 of them ; because I can be as sure of 750 to 800 

 bushels of Swedes as 600 of carrots, or even 500, 

 and can use green manure. As to the fly, a little 

 superphosphate, or well prepared fine bone dust 

 compost, makes the turnip crop safe, and pays in 

 the next crop. 



Lastly ; let us have lots of roots; but if a man 

 wants 1,200 bushels of carrots, he had best plant 

 two acres, and take good care of them. p. q. 



CULTIVATION OF POTATOES. 



* Cultivator tor July, 1861. Table taken from Flint on Dairy 

 Farming. 



One would suppose that at this late day, it would 

 be difficult to say any thing in regard to potato 

 culture that is new or worth reading. "Well, it is 

 so in a great degree, yet we do not appear to know 

 any more in regard to the best methods of culture 

 than people did fifty years ago. It was a prom- 

 inent question then as now, " Are small potatoes 

 as good for seed as large ones?" We are also un- 

 decided, as we were in "old times," whether it is 

 best to plant in hills or drills, or furrows, as is done 

 in many places. But farmers are quite as eager to 

 learn how to cultivate this crop, as they would be, 

 apparently, if it were a new vegetable just intro- 

 duced to the rural public. One says, "I'm ut- 

 terly discouraged with potato culture ; I frequently 

 get but little more than the seed I planted, and 

 half rotten at that." Another remarks, "I gen- 

 erally have dug my potatoes late in the season, and 

 have had a great many diseased ones; but this 

 year I dug early, and lost nearly the entire crop;" 

 while a third exclaims, "I dug early, and seldom 

 lost any by disease ; but I was induced to leave my 

 crop in the ground last fall till the middle of Oc- 

 tober, and when I went to dig 'em, they were all 

 gone, except a few not worth the expense of dig- 

 ging." 



Now, what are we to do under such a state of 

 disagreement and uncertainty ? I think I can lay 

 down a few brief rules, that can safely be followed 

 by all persons engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. 



First, plant fair, medium sized potatoes, and 

 plant early, just as soon as the ground can be pro- 

 perly prepared. Plant in hills or drills, but the 

 furrow system, placing the seed about ten inches 

 apart, a half or whole potato, with manure, when 

 used, coarse, and over the seed, will generally give 

 a greater yield per acre, than when planted in hills. 

 In both cases the manure should be top of the po- 

 tatoes. 



Second, let the furrows or hills be deep, so that 

 the seed will lie full six inches below the surface 

 of the soil. I find that potatoes rot less when deep 

 in the soil, than when near the surface, yet this 



