138 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



ROOT CROPS. 



Some years ago, a great deal was said in favor 

 of raising roots for stock, and many farmers went 

 into the business to a large extent. They did not 

 all realize their ardent expectations, and some have 

 abandoned raising roots altogether. Otheis raise 

 them, and with a profit, as they consider. 



There is no doubt that the value of root crops 

 has been over-estimated by some, while others con- 

 sider them unprofitable without having made a fair 

 experiment. Some farmers who are situated near 

 a large market, prefer feeding their cows on Indian 

 meal, shorts, and oil cake, to raising roots for 

 them; and in such places it might be more profita- 

 l)Ie to raise vegetables for market than to raise roots 

 for cows, while other good food for them may be 

 conveniently obtained at a moderate price. 



But in the interior, where meal, gain, oil cake, 

 &c., are higher, we believe that many farmers will 

 find] it profitable to raise roots for stock. They 

 are good for working cattle, growing cattle and 

 milcli cows; also for horses, sheep, and swine. 

 With roots, young cattle may be fed on coarse fod- 

 der, and kept in a thriving condition in winter, and 

 they will be less liable to disease than if fed on 

 dry fodder. AVorking cattle will be more healthy 

 if allowed a moderate portion of roots. Milch cows 

 fed partially on roots will give more milk, and if 

 the roots are of the right kind the milk will be rich 

 and they will be less liable to disease than when 

 they are fed on other food. Horses are kept in better 

 condition, in winter, when fed partially on roots, 

 instead of wholly on grain and meal, with the ex- 

 ception of hay. Sheep suffer much in winter from 

 being kept so long from the ground, and meal and 

 grain are not good substitutes for green food. 

 Roots are better to keep them in good condition. 



Animals are in the most thriving state when 

 feeding on green herbage; and roots afl^ord them a 

 succulent food in winter resembling the green food 

 of summer, or at least it is the best substitute for it. 



A great objection to raising root crops is the ex- 

 pense in weeding, and this applies particularly to 

 carrots, from the large number of plants that are 

 necessary. But this objection may be obviated, in 

 a great measure, by beginning in season, and pre- 

 paring and manuring the ground late in the fall or 

 early in spring, and stirring it occasionally in spring, 

 as the weeds start up, until the time of sowing, 

 and soaking the seeds, and allowing them to remain 

 in a moist state till almost ready to sprout, and 

 then sow on a fine freshly stirred soil, and the 

 plants will start before the weeds, and the weedino- 

 will cost but a trifle, compared with the old method. 

 In this way a piece of carrots may be hoed witli one- 

 fourth the usual expense. 



„ • To discover how many idle men there are in 

 a place, all that's necessary is to set two dogs a 

 fighting. 



STEEPS FOR INDIAN CORN. 



Seed corn is sometimes soaked in warm water, 

 or some preparation for the purpose of promoting 

 vegetation. Some preparations of a nauseous na- 

 ture are used as steeps for corn to prevent its be- 

 ing eaten by vermin. And some steeps are used 

 with a view to increase the crop. We have some 

 wonderful stories about the crop being increased 25 

 per cent, just by the small amount of a preparation 

 absorbed by the seed. 



There is but little advantage in soaking corn or 

 any other seed that vegetates readily, for the pur- 

 pose of forwarding the vegetative process. With 

 hard seeds, like beets, carrots, parsnips, &c , there 

 is a great advantage in steeping the seed. 



The statements about raising much larger crops 

 merely by steeping the seed in some fertilizing 

 substance, reniinds us of the shrewd remark of the 

 intelligent servant of Lord Kaimes. His lordship 

 remarked to his servant John, he had no doubt that 

 so great improvements would be made in agricul- 

 ture that a man could carry in his vest pocket ma- 

 nure enough to dress an acre of land. To which 

 John replied, "very likely, and I have no doubt that 

 he could carry the crop in the other pocket." 



We have no doubt that there may sometimes be 

 an advantage in using a nauseous steep to save the 

 seed from depredations. But will not the earth 

 and sun extract the offensive substance? 



In many cases, seed corn has been destroyed by 

 the use of powerful steeps; therefore they should 

 be used with great caution. 



A NEWLY DISCOVERED MANURE. 



The St. Vincent Royal Indies Gazette mentions 

 that a gentleman of that island has sent to England 

 a quantity of pozzolona, to have it tested as ce- 

 ment, and was agreeably surprised to learn that 

 the chemist who tested it had declared it to be the 

 best manure that had yet ever been discovered, and 

 that it was far preferable to Guano. The gentle- 

 man in question was complimented on having a 

 mine of wealth superior to gold. When it is con- 

 sidered (says the Gazette) that the island abounds 

 in tliis valuable substance — the best cement, and, 

 as it now appears, the best manure known, we can- 

 not refrain from offering our public congratulations 

 on the recent discovery, which must ere long bring 

 great wealth into the island by supplying them with 

 an article which must be much needed by the su- 

 gar growers. Pozzolona from St. Vincent could 

 of course be supplied here much cheaper than Gua- 

 no, and might in consequence of its cheapness be ex- 

 tensively used. 



I!!^ Women require more sleep than men, and 

 farmers less than those engaged in almost any 

 other occupation. Editors, autliors, and artists need 

 more sleep than those of most other professions. 

 The same is true of precocious children. 



(jy Wisdom and virtue are the greatest beauty: 

 but it is an advantage to a diamond to be loell set. 



