38 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



for grass seeds, wherein they flourish and prosper 

 with greater vigour than after any other preparation." 



Few of our readers are probably apprized of the 

 fact, that English beef, so highly extolled, and of 

 which John Bull so vauntingly boasts (and perhaps 

 no people have better beef)> is mostly winter-fattened 

 upon turnips and straw, very little hay being used. 

 This will account for the high value which the turnip 

 culture has obtained in Great Britain. 



All the above-named roots are well adapted to our 

 soils and climate ; and where their culture has been 

 undertaken with spirit and managed with judgment, 

 success has been certain. The great objection to 

 this culture has been, the labour which is required to 

 secure these roots from the frosts of winter ; and 

 yet the labour and expense required for this purpose 

 are perhaps no greater than we expend in securing 

 our grain and forage, if they are as great. Where 

 cellars are not at command or not adequate, these 

 roots may all be securely preserved in pits in dry 

 situations, due precaution being had to covering and 

 ventilation. It is the novelty of the labour, rather 

 than the amount, and a want of practical knowledge 

 and confidence of success, which intimidate and de- 

 ter us. We do save our potatoes, and we can save 

 other roots in like manner. Assuming the average 

 product of hay at a ton and a half to two tons per 

 acre, and of beets and ruta baga at 600 bushels ; and 

 allowing a bushel and a half of the latter (90 Ibs.) to 

 be equal, for farm-stock, to twenty pounds of hay, 

 an acre of the roots will go as far in the economy 

 of feeding as nearly three acres of meadow, to say 

 nothing of the tops, which will go far to repay the 

 extra expense of cultivating the roots ; while the 

 ground in the one case is ameliorated and improved, 

 and in the other impoverished. These roots, besides, 

 may be used as a substitute for grain for working 

 cattle and for pigs. The three acres of grass gives 

 less than 0000 pounds to the manure-yard, while 



