164 ROOT CULTURE. 



those revolutions in rural art which are constantly occur- 

 ring among husbandmen, and, though the revolution came 

 on with slow and gradual steps, yet it may now be viewed 

 as completely and thoroughly established. Before the 

 introduction of this root, it was impossible to cultivate 

 light soils successfully, or to derive suitable rotations for 

 cropping them with advantage. It was also a difficult 

 task to support live stock through the winter and spring 

 months ; and as for feeding and fatting cattle and sheep 

 for market, during these inclement seasons, the practice 

 was hardly thought of, and still more rarely attempted, 

 unless when a full stock of hay was provided, which only 

 happened in a very few instances. The benefits derived 

 from the turnip husbandry are, therefore, of great magni- 

 tude : light soils are now cultivated with profit and facil- 

 ity ; abundance of food is provided for man and beast ; 

 the earth is turned to the uses for which it is physically 

 calculated ; and, by being suitably cleaned with this pre- 

 paratory crop, a bed is provided for grass-seeds, wherein 

 they flourish and prosper with greater vigor than after any 

 other preparation." 



Few of our farmers are probably apprized of the fact, 

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

 which John Bull so vauntingly boasts — and perhaps no 

 people have better — is mostly winter-fattened, without 

 the addition of any sort of grain, upon roots and straw. 



All of the field-cultivated roots are found well adapted 

 to our soil and climate ; and where their culture has been 

 undertaken with spirit, and managed with judgement, it 

 has been fully demonstrated, that labor and capital cannot 

 be more profitably applied in any other department of 

 husbandry, than it can be in this. It gives the most cat- 

 tle-food and most manure, important items in the econo- 

 my of the farm, and leaves the soil in excellent order for 

 grain and grass-seeds. The great obstacle to root cul- 

 ture, other than the potato crop, has been, the labor which 

 is required to secure the roots from the frosts of winter ; 

 and yet the labor and expense required for this purpose, 

 are perhaps no greater than we expend in securing our 

 grain and forage, if they are so great. Where cellars are 



