614 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



ITEMS ABOUT TURNIPS AND OTHER ROOT CROPS, 



WITH VARIOUS OTHER SUBJECTS INTRODUCED INCIDENTALLY READ AND SEE. 



In the full persuasion that American agriculturists may not have sufficiently 

 dwelt upon the value of the Turnip Crop — we mean particularly the Swedish 

 Turnip — as food for cattle and sheep, as well for nutriment as for increasing the 

 bulk and the value of their farm-yard manure — we shall bring together such 

 items as we may meet with, and that may serve to awaken public attention to 

 their importance, and perhaps remove some of the prejudice which has prevent- 

 ed their cultivation more extensively. We select turnips from other root crops, 

 because they are made by a simpler process, demand less labor in tending and 

 storing, and if sowed in time in land well prepared, will, as it is believed, yield 

 a much more remunerating crop than is generally believed. The apprehension 

 which has most deterred farmers from the cultivation of them, has been the fear 

 of drouth and the quantity of labor, together with a want of practical knowledge 

 of their actual value as compared with other food. 



Be it, then, our endeavor to throw some light on these points in the course of 

 what we shall select and what we shall say. 



The largest crops that have fallen under our personal observation — such as 

 appeared comparable with those that are realized in England, where this root is 

 said to give meat and bread to the nation, and indirectly to uphold the Govern- 

 ment — crops which in fact appeared to be amply remunerating — have been those 

 we have seen at Mr. Coming's, near Albany, under the skillful management of 

 Mr. Sotham ; and at Marshfield, under the general superintending direction of 

 the " Great Expounder " himself. 



We don't propose to give instructions for their culture, except in one extract ; 

 for sometimes we think practical farmers must really be surfeited with reading, 

 again and again, the same old stories about common field practice, every form 

 and process of which has been so often repeated ; and as respects the different 

 kinds and the culture of turnips, no one need desire more information than we 

 have given in Stephens's Book of the Farm. 



Our object will be rather to show, by examples of crops here and there, as 

 we see accounts of them, what has been done in our country, and thence to in- 

 sist on what may be done when this shall be made, as other crops have been, am 

 object of special attention and trial, under a persuasion of its real value. The first 

 item within reach comes to us in that very sensible, practical and judicious paper, 

 tlie ' Massachusetts Ploughman,' whose agricultural department never fails tore- 

 pay to us the attention which it always attracts. In an account of one of their 

 late Club meetings in the Hall of Legislation : 



Mr. Brooks, of Princeton, went into an estimate of the relative values of difterent root8 

 for stock compared with hay. He had not grown turnips extensively. F'rom \ of an acre 

 he had grown 100 to 150 bushels. For young stock he counts them as good as hay. poutid 

 for pound. Tliey do not fatten like potatoes, but keep the bowels open. Potatoes are 

 better for milch cows than any kind of turnips. 



We may venture to claim acquaintance with Mr. Brooks, and know him to 

 he in judgment and character altogether reliable. Here we sec that 500 bush- 

 els to the acre can be counted on. 



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