88 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Harvesting. 

 The ruta-baga is ready for harvesting, in New England, by 

 the 2.0th of October ; but, in case other work drives, the roots 

 may remain in the ground until the first week in Novem- 

 ber, if the weather is not exceedingly cold for the season. After 

 pulling and topping in the same manner as the mangolds, 

 already described, the roots should be put in bins, in a cool, dry 

 locality, and packed in a depth not more than three feet. The 

 following method of storing, taken from the " Farmer's Ency- 

 clopasdia," is desirable when storage is scarce, and the roots are 

 not to be used immediately : " Select a convenient and dry situ- 

 ation, and pack the roots carefully with their .crowns outside, in 

 a row about six feet wide at the bottom, and terminating in a 

 narrow ridge at the top ; then dig a trench, commencing imme- 

 diately at the edge of the roots two feet wide and one deep, 

 turning the mould from the heap ; thatch the latter carefully 

 with straw, commencing in the trench, so that all the rain may 

 drain off the heap into it. The clamp may be left two or three 

 weeks in this state, that the evaporation from the roots may 

 escape : the mould already taken out of the trench is then to be 

 laid on the straw, commencing at the bottom of the thatch, and 

 covering the heap twelve inches thick throughout, finishing with 

 a sharp edge. Half the trench originally made, will, of course, 

 by this plan be filled up with straw and mould ; the other half 

 will remain as a channel for the water falling off the heap ; and, 

 as'sufficient mould will not have been raised from the original 

 excavation, it will be advisable, in procuring more, to make the 

 channel left round the heap a few inches deeper, as well as wider. 

 The leaves, like those of the mangolds, are exceedingly nutri- 

 tive, and, when given to milch cows, cause a greatly increased 

 flow of rich milk. Care should be taken that all dirt is shaken 

 from them before giving to the animals." 



Yield. 



This varies in different localities ; as high as one thousand 

 bushels have been raised to the acre ; probably a fair average 

 vield is about seven hundred bushels to the acre, each bushel 

 weighing about sixty pounds. 



The analysis of the ruta-baga, shows that it is less nutritive 

 than the different varieties of mangold wurzel, and observa- 



