ROOT CULTURE. 103 



be extensively gone into in this country for the pur- 

 pose of making sugar ; and if so, the residuum of the 

 beet will form an important item in the material for 

 fattening cattle. 



There are other advantages resulting from root 

 culture which should not be overlooked. It tends 

 greatly to increase the quantity of manure on the 

 farm, to meliorate the texture of the soil, and to fur- 

 nish excellent alternating crops in convertible hus- 

 bandry. In selecting for culture, the farmer should 

 choose the roots that are best adapted to his soil. 

 The turnips prefer a dry, sandy soil ; the beet a clay 

 loam. 



As to the best means of cultivating these crops, 

 the committee summarily remark, that the product 

 and profit will materially depend upon the following 

 contingencies; viz., that the soil be dry; that it be 

 rich ; that it be deeply worked ; that it be thoroughly 

 pulverized ; and that the after-culture be well man- 

 aged. The implements necessary to cultivate them 

 advantageously, in addition to the plough and har- 

 row, are the drill-barrow and cultivator. The sea- 

 son for sowing the beet is from the 10th to the 20th 

 May; and for the Swedish turnip from the 10th to 

 the 25th June. The drill or row culture is decidedly 

 the best. A detail of the whole process of culture 

 would occupy too much space for this report ; and 

 it is unnecessary, as these processes are already un- 

 derstood by many, and have been minutely described 

 in the agricultural periodicals of the day. The com- 

 mittee will merely recommend, in conclusion, that 

 the roots be always cut previously to being fed to 

 cattle, for which purpose machines may be procured 

 at a moderate charge, which will cut a bushel in 

 from one to three minutes. If cut, the roots will be 

 eaten entirely ; if not cut, a portion is apt to be re- 

 jected and wasted. 



The chairman has received a communication from 

 Col. Meacham, stating his mode of* cultivating the 



