332 



THE TURNIP CROP. 



gypsum, or even dry sand : if any of the cut portion be left 

 behind, it is sure to rot, and disorganize the whole mass. 

 The organic composition of the turnip tops has like- 

 wise been determined by Dr. Voelcker, and is thus given : 



At first sight, judging from the percentage of nitrogen 

 compounds (flesli-formers\ these analyses would lead us to 

 consider that the tops possessed higher feeding qualities 

 than the bulbs of the turnip. It would be worth while 

 to test this practically, as we have no recorded experi- 

 ments as to their actual feeding value, which probably 

 would not be so high as the amount of nitrogen they 

 contain would lead us to expect, as from recent researches 

 we have reason to believe, that in the case of succulent 

 articles of food, and leaves especially, the nitrogen they 

 contain does not entirely exist in the shape of albuminous 

 or other available food compounds. The analyses of their 

 inorganic as well as organic constituents, however, show 

 us their mammal value to the farm a crop of 20 tons 

 of roots to the acre leaving behind them on the field in 

 their " tops/'in round numbers, about 1 cwt. of valuable 

 fertilizing mineral substances, and organic substances 

 capable of producing about 40 to 50 Ibs. of ammonia. 

 These matters are worth consideration, especially when 

 turnips are sold off the land. 



