ROOT CROPS. 211 



of its early removal. Oats is the most unsuitable as 

 a nurse crop for reasons just the opposite. 



The value of the turnip crop for forage will 

 depend much on the character of the season and 

 soil. In any case, the turnips are not likely to grow 

 so as to hinder growth in the grain crop. But 

 under favorable conditions they will come on after 

 the crop is harvested and will produce an excellent 

 growth of top and root. In very dry seasons they 

 may not give any return, but in turnip growing sec- 

 tions it is seldom, indeed, that the crop will not be 

 found worth more than the seed and the cost of 

 sowing it. 



Pasturing. — The sheep or other live stock that 

 are to be pastured on the turnips may be allowed 

 freedom of access to the pastures after the first two 

 or three days. And if they can have access to other 

 grass pasture, the outcome will be still further satis- 

 factory, for the danger of an unduly lax condition 

 of the bowels is less likely to occur. The pasturing 

 should be completed before the weather becomes 

 really cold, for turnips freeze much more easily than 

 rutabagas, and when hard frozen they should not be 

 eaten by the stock. 



Observations. — i. When rape and fall turnips 

 are thus grown together, the combination is an 

 excellent one for sheep. The seed of each may be 

 sown in equal quantities. 



2. When fall turnips are thus sown with grain, 

 the plowing of the land must usually be deferred 

 until late in the season, and this is so far an objec- 

 tion to the system. 



3. When the turnips grow to a large size, as 

 they sometimes do, the largest are harvested and 



