158 ROOTS. 



we sowed it with spring grain. We were lately told, 

 by an Englishman, that it was common, in his coun- 

 try, to sow beds of it quite thick, and to transplant the 

 roots, when grown large, into larger spaces. We 

 should probably think this too much trouble in our 

 country. 



For soiling cattle that are kept constantly up, this 

 plant yields a most abundant and nutritious crop. It 

 may be mown four or five times in the season ; and 

 we have had patches that grew more than two feet in 

 height in a single month after cutting. If Ave could 

 contrive some cheap mode of seeding with it we might 

 find our account in its cultivation. 



ROOTS,, 



Those who plant carrots, parsnips, or mangel-wurt- 

 zet for cattle, should do it in May, or by the first of 

 June. 



Ruta baga may be sown as late as the twentieth of 

 June, and they are more tender than when sowed early. 



Some prefer one kind and some another ; but much 

 must depend on the soil and the preparation. Ruta 

 baga will grow any where, if the surface is made rich ; 

 and they may be sown where other seeds, that should 

 be sowed earlier, have failed. 



Carrots and parsnips require more care. To obtain 

 large crops, the soil should be deep and thoroughly dug 

 up or ploughed up. For field culture, the plough must 

 be used ; but it is not good to plough deep very early 

 in the season. In much of our soil, if we plough 

 when the ground is too wet, it becomes lumps, that 

 remain hard nearly the whole summer. The plough 

 should not be used until we are ready to sow the seed, 

 or until the latter part of May : then the manure may 

 be spread on and immediately ploughed in. Wheu 



