CARROTS, MANGOLDS AND SUGAR BEETS. 53 



condition than any other root, under favorable circumstances 

 even as late as July. Experiments in feeding steers made 

 with care, proved that while a ton of Mangolds increased 

 their weight sixty-five pounds, a ton of Swede increased their 

 weight but forty-eight pounds, equal quantities of hay having 

 been fed in each experiment. Other experiments have es- 

 tablished about the same proportionate value between these 

 two roots, though the general result was not as favorable. 

 Mangolds, like fruit, undergo a ripening change after they 

 are gathered, and until this is effected they are not in the 

 best condition for feeding. The ripening process for the 

 most part consists in a change of starch into sugar, and makes 

 the Mangolds both more healthful and more nutritious food. 

 Before this change is effected they are apt to scour stock 

 if fed to any degree liberally. The time when this chem- 

 ical change takes place will depend on the degree of ripe- 

 ness of the crop when stored ; and this, as has been clearly 

 shown is affected by both the soil on which they grew and the 

 manure "with which they were fed ; other conditions equal, 

 those grown on upland ripen earlier than those on lowland, 

 while rank manures tend to prolong the period of growth and 

 crops so grown, come into condition for feeding later in the 

 season. In England, a common piactice is to begin feeding 

 the Mangolds at Christmas, while in this country the middle 

 of January is considered early enough. Experiments careful- 

 ly made have proved that when fed to fattening animals they 

 should follow and not precede Turnips. It is a good rule in 

 feeding this as with other roots or tubers, to begin with a smal] 

 quantity and gradually increase the amount up to the limit 

 which the appetite of the cow, her general health and the tale 

 of the milk pail indicates. Every farmer who feeds a dairy 

 needs a root cutter. There are several of these in the market, 

 some designed for sheep only, which cut the roots into small 

 pieces., others for neat cattle, while some manufactured by 



