ROOT CROPS. 147 



My crop was not as good this year as usual, tho season having 

 been very wet, and the oats injured as tlie result. 



ROOT CROPS. 



MIDDLESEX NORTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Since so much of the pleasure of the table and tlie strength 

 of the body are derived from the variety and qualities of vege- 

 tables daily consumed, it is natural that the vegetable depart- 

 ment of our exhibition should attract and receive a large share 

 of the attention of contributors and visitors at our agricultural 

 exhibitions. With the increased and improved varieties of veg- 

 etables now cultivated, and the high prices of meat, the former 

 have come to stand second only to the " staff of life " among 

 the necessities of our table supplies. Nor is the demand 

 increased for table consumption alone. No good farmer can 

 feel that he has had a successful and satisfactory harvest unless 

 he has laid by in store a good supply of vegetables for the use 

 of his stock during the long New England winter. He knows 

 how much of the thrift and profit of his winter dairy depends 

 upon his well-filled vegetable cellar ; and in no other way can 

 he so cheaply increase these, while the eager welcome which his 

 cattle give him as he daily presents himself before them with 

 well-filled baskets for their use, will afford him much cheaply- 

 purchased pleasure. 



With all our increased attention to this branch of culture in 

 New England, we are yet far behind old England in this line, 

 where the root crop is an indispensable requisite, and is consid- 

 ered as one of the most profitable of agricultural products, not 

 only for the dairy, but for fattening for the shambles. 



Your Committee think that many of our farmers will find 

 their profits increased if they will appropriate a larger portion 

 of their soil to the growth of such vegetables as will much 

 diminish the amount of hay and grain requisite for winter use. 

 The amount of labor, if properly applied, will be comparatively 

 small, while the increase of profit will be very great. 



