Chap. li. RUT A BAG A CULTURE. 121 



Uses of and mode of applying^ the crop. 



127. It is harder to say, what uses this root 

 may nothe put, than what uses it inay be put to, in 

 the feeding of animals. They are eaten greedily 

 by sheep, horn cattle, and hogs, in their raw state. 

 Boiled or steamed (which is better) no dog that I 

 ever saw, will refuse it. Poultry of all sons will 

 live upon it in its cooked state. Some dogs will 

 even eat if raw ; a fact that I first became acquaint- 

 ed with by perceiving my Shepherd's dog eating 

 it in the field along with the sheep. 1 have two 

 Spaniels that come into the barn and eat it raw ; 

 and yet they are both in fine condition. Some 

 horses will nearly live upon it in the raw state 5 

 others are not so fond of it. 



128. Let me give an account of what I am doing 

 now (in the month of April) with my crop. 



129. it is not pretended, that this root, measure 

 for measure, is equal to Indian Corn in the ear. 

 Therefore, as I can get Indian Corn in the ear for 

 half a dollar a bushel, and, as I sell my Ruta Baga 

 for half a dollar a bushel at New- York, I am very 

 sparing of the use of the latter for animals. In- 

 deed, i use none at home, except such as have 

 been injured, as above-mentioned, by the delay in 

 the harvesting. These damaged roots 1 apply in 

 the following manner. 



130. Twice a da}'^ 1 take about two bushels, and 

 scatter them about upon the grass for fifteen Ewes 

 with their lambs and a few wether sheep, and for 

 seven stout store-pigs, which eat with them. Once 

 a day 1 fling out a parcel of the refuse that have 

 been cut from the roots sent to market, along with 

 cabbage leaves, and stems, parsnip fibres, and the 

 like. Here the working oxen, hogs, cow, sheep 

 and fowls, all feed as they please. All these ani- 

 mals are in excellent condition. The cow has ?io 



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