4S 



fully demonstrated that, in regard to its yield, the ease with which it 

 is cultivated, and its freedom from disease and insect pests, the sugar 

 beet far surpasses all other roots ; and when it is taken into consider- 

 ation that in nutritive qualities it is only surpassed by the potato and 

 carrot, both of which are greatly inferior to it as producers, and far 

 exceed it in the cost of cultivation, it must be conceded that the sugar 

 beet is,'all in all, much the most profitable root we can grow, and is 

 suitable alike for young growing animals, fat cattle, horses, milch 

 cows, and even sheep and swine might advantageously be treated to 

 an occasioual meal of these palatable and nutritious vegetables. 



Having stated what, to the best of my knowledge, is the most 

 profitable root crop to grow, let me make a few suggestions with 

 regard to the cultivation and use of roots. And first, bear in mind 

 that 150 lbs. of beet tops are equal, for fall feeding, to 100 lbs. of 

 the best meadow hay. There is a great difference between growing 

 beets for sugar and beets for cattle ; in the former case it is the chief 

 aim of the producer to exclude all the nitrogen possible ; while in the 

 latter, it is desirable that the plant store up the largest possible amount 

 of this element. 



Therefore beets for feeding purposes should be grown on heavier 

 land, or that containing more organic matter, and given all the 

 nitrogenous food they will assimilate. 



Notwithstanding opinions to the contrary I do not believe in cook- 

 ing roots for horned cattle. The animals relish the raw vegetables 

 best. The amount of woody fiber is so small and the elements of 

 nutrition are all so soluble and readily taken up by the system, that 

 the increased nutritive qualities of the food, if they exist, will not 

 nearly compensate for the increased cost of feeding. An acre of land 

 that will produce three tons of hay, will grow twenty tons of beets ; and 

 when it is remembered that three hundred pounds of sugar beets are 

 the nutritive equivalent for one hundred pounds of meadovv hay, it 

 will be seen that an acre of beets furnishes more than twice as much 

 nourishment as does an acre of hay, and that the nutriment furuished 

 by them is in the cheapest possible form. But as it is not natural 

 for the animal to take the bulk of its food in this condition, it thrives 

 best when receiving a portion in the form of hay or fodder. Aside 

 from the nutriment they contain, the effect of roots on the condition 

 of the animal is so salutary, that this alone would repay the farmer 

 for never attempting to winter his stock without roots sufficient to 



