156 



classes of stock. In connection with hay and grain, it 

 forms a splendid winter ration for horses, cows and sheep. 

 It should always be cut finely, if fed raw, to prevent chok- 

 ing. Hogs and poultry thrive remarkably, when steamed 

 or boiled turnips comprise a considerable portion of their 

 diet. Fresh, new land is necessary to grow smooth, clean 

 turnips, as old rich garden soil almost invariably produces 

 prongy and worm-eaten bulbs. The large Ruta Baga tur- 

 nip should be sown as early as May or June, while the com- 

 mon round turnip does well when sown as late as August. 

 Some farmers sow turnips broadcast, but the most satisfac- 

 tory way seems to be, to plant in drills, three feet apart for 

 Ruta Bagas and eighteen inches to two feet for round tur- 

 nips, thinning the former to one foot apart in the row, and 

 the latter to two or three inches. In this shape they may- 

 be cultivated and thinned properly and with ease, which 

 greatly adds to the chances of the crop. Turnips yield well, 

 are little trouble to grow, and generally sell well at profit- 

 able prices. 



Id couclusion let it be said that the majority of crop fail- 

 ures are directly traceable to either lack of adequate fertili- 

 zation or to insufficient cultivation. The soil cannot well 

 become too rich for most crops. At all events it very rare- 

 ly does in Essex County. Next to fertilization in impor- 

 tance comes cultivation, which can hardly be too intensive. 

 Keeping the weeds in check is insufficient. Always, the 

 surface soil should be light and mellow. 



COMPARATIVE VALUE OF CROPS AS FOOD FOR 



CATTLE. 



BY O. S. BUTLER, OF GEOKGETOWN. 



As no statement has been presented to the committee on 

 the above subject, in regard to the comparative value of 



