l. XXIII, Second Series. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y, JUNE, 1862. 



No 6. 



CULTIVATION OF ROOT CROPS. 



diE general introduction of any new system of 

 tculture is proverbially slow. We were once 



an English farm where seventy-five acres of 

 nips were grown every year,- and the farmer 

 ntioned, as a curious fact, that in the lease of 



former occupier there was a clause compelling 

 i to sow twelve acres of turnips every year, and 

 5 he considered a great hardship. Certain it is 

 t he would not have grown so many had it not 

 :n one of the conditions of the lease. Now one 

 rth of the entire arable portion of the farm is 

 upied with turnips and ruta bagas. 

 n looking over the back numbers of the Genesee 

 <-mer for the last thirty years, we have been 

 ick with the urgent advocacy of root culture. 

 3 same is true of the Albany Cultivator. The 

 at advantages of root crops have been repeatedly 

 iwn, and yet to-day how few grow even roots 

 •ugh to give their sheep and cows a taste during 



winter and early spring months! 

 rrorn twenty to twenty -four years ago, the dil- 

 ation of roots was more warmly advocated by 

 lerican agricultural writers than at the present 

 le. The lamented Judge Bdel especially spoke 

 quently in their praise, and through the pages 

 the Cultivator did more than any other man to 

 I the attention of farmers to the subject. He 



not, however, confine himself merely to advo- 

 ingthe culture of root crops, but demonstrated 

 ictrcally on his own farm that turnips could be 

 icessfully raisud in this country. Others were 

 uced to do the same thing, and one can not but 

 struck with the interest that seems to have been 

 I on the subject. 



Why has this interest abated? We do not say 

 it fewer roots are raised now than formerly, but 

 tainly farmers are less enthusiastic in their 

 lise. * 



Perhaps they expected too much. Like many 

 ler new things, it is not improbable that turnips 



were lauded too highly, and that those who tried 

 them failed to realize their extravagant expecta- 

 tions. Root crops require extra cultivation. An 

 English farmer expends more money and labor on 

 his turnips and ruta bagas than on any other crop 

 in the rotation. At the same time he finds that it 

 is not directly profitable. He feeds them out on 

 his farm, and the profits from his cattle and sheep 

 when fed on these crops are not more than the cost 

 of raising the turnips. In fact, as a general rule, 

 we believe there is a loss rather than a profit. 

 But the manure is valuable. This is the source of 

 his profits from root culture. Taking into consid- 

 eration the value of the manure and the effect of 

 their growth and culture on the soil, the cultiva- 

 tion of turnips proves very beneficial. In fact, the 

 turnip has been very justly termed "the sheet- 

 anchor of British agriculture." 



A good English farmer once said to the writer, 

 "Insure me a crop of turnips, and I will insure 

 you every other crop in the rotation." The rota- 

 tion is, first, turnips ; second, barley, seeded with 

 clover; third, clover; fourth, wheat; and then tur- 

 nips again, and so on. A good crop of turnips, 

 eaten on the land by sheep, means good barley and 

 good clover. Good clover means good wheat. 

 The turnips and the clover may not yield much 

 "profit, but the extra yield of barley and wheat 

 more than compensates for the great labor and ex- 

 pense bestowed on the turnip crop. 



There is felt at this time a renewed interest in 

 the culture of roots in this country and in Canada 

 West. We are anxious that the true value of the 

 turnip family should be known— that the source of 

 its profits should be definitely understood. We 

 are satisfied that root culture may be extended 

 with advantage, but the immediate profits will not 

 be large. Airong the advantages of root culture 

 may be named — 



1st. The thorough preparation required, and the 

 use of the horse-ho^ between the rows cleans, mel- 

 lows and enriches tne soil. 



