158 . GARDEN FARMING 



the plants thinned to stand from 6 to 9 inches apart in the row, 

 according to the strength of the soil and the size of the roots 

 desired. The sugar content of well-grown sugar beets, in localities 

 suited to the commercial cultivation of the crop, is from 12 to 

 1 8 per cent. The agricultural by-products of this crop are the beet 

 tops, which, of course, can be retained by the farmer for use as 

 stock food, and the beet pomace, which is left after the extraction 

 of the juice. This beet pomace, or pulp as it is called, is a stock 

 food of some value. The stockmen living in the vicinity of beet 

 factories use it to a considerable extent to feed dairy cows, growing 

 animals, sheep, and swine. Such a product cannot be made the 

 whole ration of the animal, for it contains only a small percentage 

 of actual food material. In order to secure a satisfactory ration 

 from this it is necessary to use it in combination with such con- 

 centrates as gluten meal, oil meal, or cottonseed meal. During 

 late years beet pulp has been dried, fortified with molasses, and 

 extensively sold as a food for dairy cows. 



MANGELS, STOCK BEETS, OR MANGEL-WURZELS 



Stock beets, or mangel-wurzels as they are popularly known, 

 have been extensively used for a great many years in Germany 

 and Holland for stock-feeding purposes and are slowly gaining 

 favor among dairymen and stock raisers in America. 



The advent of the silo a few years ago diverted the attention of 

 the stock raisers and experimenters from root crops to the care 

 and use of silage, but now there seems to be a growing sentiment 

 in favor of beets and turnips as factors in the ration of dairy and 

 stock animals. Where a green food of this nature is needed for the 

 winter the question of economy must determine for each individual 

 and place whether the ration shall consist of silage or of roots. 



The cultivation of the stock beet does not differ materially from 

 that of the garden beet. The soil to which it is best adapted is a 

 sandy or gravelly loam which has been thoroughly enriched by the 

 application of stable manure and deeply cultivated for a number 

 of years. If possible, a beet crop should be preceded by a hoe 

 crop, such as corn or potatoes. If this is not possible, clover is the 

 next best preparatory crop. Stock beets, because of the large size 



