336 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



stock. Now here is just where he should rouse himself to more 

 enterprise to meet this want, especially by the cultivation of 

 root crops. It is remarkable what immense burdens of carrots, 

 ruta-bagas, mangold wurzels and sugar beets, can be raised on 

 small plots of well-manured land, and with no more skill and 

 labor than are required in the cultivation of a corn crop. The 

 turnip culture is often said to be the foundation of modern 

 British husbandry. Why ? Because it enables the farmers of 

 Great Britain to raise and keep a much larger number of animals 

 — both neat stock and sheep — than they would otherwise possibly 

 be enabled to do, and by this means to increase the manure 

 heaps by which to augment the capacity of the soil for future 

 crops. We have talked a great deal about the benefits of the 

 root culture ; it forms one of the standing topics of cattle show 

 addresses, but it has made but slow progress among us. If we 

 would once set about in good earnest and begin to rear young 

 stock, we should know by actual experience the inestimable 

 value of roots for winter feeding, and should help introduce 

 into more general practice their culture. And the prospect of 

 a home demand for young stock, such as would spring up from 

 the establishing of market-days, would certainly tend to this 

 desired result. 



Again, there is a growing demand and at high prices, for good 

 milch cows, especially for those giving rich milk, well adapted 

 for the table and for butter. Let a regular market day be 

 established in their neighborhood, and an additional induce- 

 ment would be offered to farmers to raise their most promis- 

 ing heifer calves, by the certainty of finding purchasers of their 

 cows just as soon as they were ready for sale ; and the compe- 

 tition of a full attendance of purchasers would most likely 

 create brisker sales and higher prices than would otherwise be 

 had for tliem. The great question which is the best breed of 

 cows for dairy purposes — if indeed there be one — would after a 

 time be in a fair way to be settled. If the Jersey or the Ayr- 

 shire breed be the best adapted to our pastures and our climate, 

 and the most to be depended upon for the dairy, it would 

 assuredly be found out ; for at a fair where dealers and farm- 

 ers thus meet together, they would compare their experiences 

 and make up a judgment accordingly. Or if a new breed of 

 milch cows — pure natives perchance — should be originated 



