VEGETABLES 199 



Potatoes. Potatoes are not extensively used for poultry feed- 

 ing, and should be fed sparingly. Birds eat them readily, especially 

 when cooked and mixed with a mash. The results of eating a 

 great many of them in this form are to decrease the appetite for 

 complete rations at future feedings, and to put on excessive fat, 

 due to high content of carbohydrate. Raw potatoes are not eaten 

 readily by birds. 



Beets, as a group, form one of the most valuable succulent 

 crops. The several types are garden beets, mangel-wurzels, and 

 sugar beets. Mangel-wurzels are valued for their extremely large 

 size and large yields per acre. They contain considerable water 



FIG. 117. Mangel-wurzel beets at harvest time. The tops are cut green and fed immedi- 

 ately; the roots are pulled and, after curing a few days, are stored for winter feeding. 



in the fresh state, are easily preserved in good condition well into 

 the winter, are relished by the fowls, and will produce no harmful 

 results. They will not entirely replace greens as a source of suc- 

 culence, but are among the best substitutes available (Fig. 117). 

 Dried beet pulp, which is a by-product of the beet-sugar industry, 

 has been tried to a limited extent as a means of supplying succu- 

 lence to poultry during the winter when other sources were not 

 available. Results tend to show that it can be profitably used for 

 the purpose. 



Other Root Crops. Turnips, carrots, and parsnips are used in 

 limited amounts where they are available. When fresh and cut 

 in vegetable cutters, birds relish them as well as they do mangels. 

 It is generally the practice to use only small roots which cannot 



