2d. The growth of turnips and their consump- 

 tion on the farm furnishes much valuable manure, 

 and thus serves to enrich the soil for subsequent 

 crops. 



3d. A large quantity of healthy and succulent 

 food is obtained for the use of sheep and cattle du- 

 ring the winter and early spring months, when 

 such food is much needed. 



The drawbacks to root culture in this country 

 are — 



1st. Our dry, hot climate is not as favorable to 

 their growth as the moist climate of Great Britain. 

 2d. We are obliged to put them in cellars or in 

 pits to preserve them through our severe winters. 

 The first objection is, in our mind, not so serious 

 as the second. Good crops can be raised in this 

 climate. In Canada West, where much more at- 

 tention is paid to root culture than with us, as 

 heavy crops of ruta bagas are sometimes raised as 

 in England, and their culture is rapidly increasing. 

 The secret of their success is not any superiority 

 in the climate, but in the thorough preparation of 

 the ground and the subsequent cultivation. They 

 generally plow the land in the fall and again in the 

 spring, with repeated harrowings, till the ground is 

 clean and mellow. Then throw the land into 

 ridges 2-J- feet apart, and put a good dressing of 

 well rotted manure in the ridges, and cover by 

 splitting the ridges with a double mould-board 

 plow. Then drill in the seed on the ridges with a 

 drill, having a light roller before and after the seed 

 drill. They sow usually about the middle of June. 

 Sow from one to two lbs. of seed per acre. When 

 the plants are coming into the rough leaf, thin out 

 with the hoe from ten to twelve inches apart, and 

 use the horse-hoe frequently between the rows. 



To sow ruta bagas (Swedes) broadcast is a boot- 

 less task. 



Mangel wurzels are better adapted, we think, to 

 our climate than Swede turnips, and more nutri- 

 tious. They require very rich soil and good cul- 

 ture, and then large crops can be obtained. They 

 keep well into spring, and are excellent food for 

 milch cows or the ewes with lambs in the spring. 

 They deserve more attention than they have yet 

 received. Prepare the land as for Swedes, and 

 sow about the first of June. Thin out by hand 

 and with the hoe to from twelve to fifteen inches 

 apart. More nutritive matter can be obtained 

 from an acre of mangel wurzels [The name means 

 "scarcity root"] than from any other root crop. 

 But it must have very rich soil, or extra manuring. 

 The culture of beets is similar to that of mangel 



wurzels. If raised for sugar, they should be sow 

 on warm, dry land, thoroughly pulverized, and n\ 

 too rich. Small beets contain the largest per cen 

 age of sugar. They need not be left more ths 

 eight inches apart in the rows. It is better' 

 earth them up as they grow, so as to keep all tl 

 root under ground. 



In Ireland, a dibble is used for making the hoi 

 into which the mangel wurzel or beet seeds a 

 dropped. The accompanying figure will render 

 description unnecessary. Any farmer can mal 

 one for himself. 



The common white turnip is not as nutritive 

 the Swede or ruta baga. It will not keep so wi 

 through the winter. The English farmers sc 

 them principally to eat off on the land from Oct 

 ber to December. It will hardly pay to hou 

 them. We think they may be raised in this cou 

 try on light sandy soils, for the same object, wi 

 advantage. They require far less cultivation ths 

 the ruta baga. They may be sown broadcast ai 

 time in July. 



Hollow Horn in Cattle. — Much has been sa 

 and written upon the subject of hollow-horn 

 horn-distemper ; and some persons seem to be 

 constituted, with such tender feelings and pu 

 morals, that they admonish, if not rebuke, any p< 

 son who has the temerity (?) to use the easy mea 

 of preventing the hollow-horn by cutting off 

 small piece of the animal's tail once or twice 

 year. Surely such persons are changeable-mindc 

 or if the raise any cattle of the male kind, tb 

 are fully supplied with uncastrated animals, 

 have raised some cattle, and it is my rule to cut c 

 a small piece of the tail of all my cattle in tl 

 spring of the year, just before they go out to p« 

 ture, and if at any time during the summer I d: 

 cover the brush of the tail being curled, or Ioi 

 and twisted, I forthwith cut off half an inch (mo 

 or less) of the tail — being careful to cut as little 

 the hair brush as possible. I hasve never knov 

 an animal to have tine horn-ail that was treated 

 the above described manner. — Bela Dunba 

 North Chili, N. Y. 



