110 ROOTS. 



We hope a few more friends of the hen will try ex- 

 periments on shutting the animal up and letting her 

 have abundance of food, and of gravel, and lime, that 

 they may be able to report the net profits of the 

 process. 



As to other two-footed animals, there may be some 

 doubt about the propriety of putting them in fetters 

 before they have committed any crime, lest they might 

 enter into temptation ; but hens have not wit enough 

 to resist or to evade your barricades, though not 

 erected more than four feet high, provided pickets are 

 ranged on the top to make it an uneasy place for them 

 to rest on ; for fowls never fly over a fence without 

 an attempt to rest on it, unless they are excessively 

 frightened. 



ROOT&. 



The importance of raising roots to be used as food 

 for cattle, horses, and swine, during our long winters, 

 cannot be too often nor too strongly impressed upon 

 the farmers of Maine, at least until more of them enter 

 somewhat more largely into the business than they do 

 at present. 



Potatoes are planted by every one as a matter of 

 course. Next to potatoes, perhaps the ruta baga crop 

 commands the most attention. The sugar-beet is next 

 in order, though of but recent introduction. Mangel- 

 wurtzels have not generally found so much favor with 

 the farmers of Maine as they ought to ; nor has the 

 carrot ; bnt the most neglected of all is the parsnip. 

 We do not recollect ever having seen a field of 

 parsnips growing in Maine, and yet we verily believe 

 that, all things considered, they are the most profita- 

 ble of either as an article of food for stock and swine. 

 We have heretofore tried some experiments on a limit- 



