WORCESTER SOCIETY. 79 



ten inches on an average ; we had no weeds to pull, the above 

 described hoe did all but thinning out; ashes were used on one 

 part of the field, which, I have no doubt, had a tendency to in- 

 jure the plant. Contrary to my expectation, from this piece I 

 harvested 156 bushels of 56 lbs. to the bushel. 



The expense of weeding, hoeing and harvesting this crop, I 

 estimate at two thirds that of my carrots — say sixteen dollars, 

 including interest on land, manure, seed and labor. The roots 

 for making milk are worth, at least, twenty cents for fifty-six 

 lbs. ; this would make my crop worth $31 20. I think that 

 fifty-six lbs. of sugar-beets will give as many quarts of milk as 

 fifty-six of carrots ; but I would, by no means, be understood 

 that they are so valuable as the carrots for horses or dry stock. 

 My cows in milk, that have been fed on beets this season, have 

 been kept in finer condition, and have given larger quantities of 

 milk, than on any feed of like cost I have ever given them. My 

 carrots are generally fed out, with a change of turnips from Jan- 

 uary to May. With one peck of this feed, per day, to a cow, 

 and chopped hay, with four quarts of cabbage, or the like quan- 

 tity of wheat bran or stalks, this fodder, with a warm stable 

 and good attention, will produce as much milk in winter as from 

 the like cow in common pasture in summer; how milkmen can 

 produce milk in winter on dry hay and corn meal alone, to a 

 profit, is more than I can solve. 



I have been particular in describing my method of raising 

 roots, not because I suppose it better than many others, but be- 

 cause, desirous that others who have had a great reluctance to 

 engage in the root culture, should judge for themselves whether 

 they can do so well with one fourth of an acre of the best corn 

 land, as to prepare it in the best manner and sow it to carrots. 

 Our county has, for four or five years, offered very liberal pre- 

 miums for small lots of roots one fourth of an acre : so small, 

 indeed, that any one who occupies five acres, can spare this 

 much for roots designed for his stock in winter. This method, 

 once adopted, will very much improve the condition of our 

 stock, and bring more competitors for premium than we have 

 thus far had. 



Sutton, November 30, 1846. 



