62 AGRICULTURE. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



ROOT CROPS AND TUBERS. 



NATURE AND GROWTH OF ROOTS. If we place some seed 

 of the turnip or beet in the ground in early summer, we find a 

 plant sprouting up that has broad thick leaves. The root is 

 tapering, sometimes quite long, and has fine rootlets growing 

 on the sides. Towards the end of the season the leaves wither, 

 change color, and die. When we pull up the root we find a 

 thick mass of juicy substance that is relished much by 

 animals. This turnip or beet root has not finished its life- 

 work as a plant, since it has not yet produced any seed or any 

 new plants like itself. If we leave it in the ground, or if we 

 take good care of it through the winter so as to keep it cool 

 and unbruised, and plant it in the early summer, it will begin 

 to grow again. A new growth will appear above the soil, a 

 stalk will be formed and seed be produced of the same kind as 

 that which we sowed in the first place. If we again pull up 

 the plant, we find the thick fleshy root has become very thin 

 and fibrous, and is of no use as food for stock. We conclude 

 that these plants are biennials ; that during the first season 

 they store up large quantities of food in their root, and that 

 this food in the root nourishes the plant during the second 

 season. Since they have a whole season to gather food, we 

 find that the weight per acre greatly exceeds that of many crops 

 that are annuals, and they take a large quantity of material out 

 of the soil. These plants are heavy feeders. By keeping the 

 soil well cultivated we destroy the weeds, keep the soil 

 moist, and help the action of the roots. The roots are very 

 watery and contain large quantities of the substances that are 



