74 



FEEDING WITH SUGAR BEETS, SUGAR, ETC. 



rutabagas. 



especially when manured by the leaf-stripping. Neck slicing 

 is not effected, for the reason that it would diminish by nearly 

 one-half the yield of the crop, under which circumstances it 

 would not be profitable. The conclusion is, that those farmers 

 who grow mangels for other purposes than their own stock use, 

 are practicing a system of husbandry not to be encouraged. 

 Sugar-beets From time to time it is urged that rutabagas be more exten- 

 compared with gj ve }y cultivated, it being argued that the farmer in the long 

 run would derive more actual advantage from such a crop than 

 is possible from sugar beets when the object in view is cattle- 

 feeding. We are willing to admit that the yield per acre is 

 greater with rutabagas than with sugar beets, but there are other 

 issues to be considered besides the yield. Upon general prin- 

 ciples the main effort in sugar-beet cultivation has always been 

 to increase the sugar percentage and dry substances contained 

 in the beet, rather than to obtain as far as possible heavy yields. 

 With rutabagas on the other hand the aim has always been to 

 get heavy yields regardless of every other condition, and as a 

 result 36 tons have been obtained to the acre. Sugar-beets may 

 be said to contain from 75 to 90 per cent, water; in the case of 

 rutabagas with heavy yields the root is very watery and contains 

 only about 10 per cent, dry substances. The table herewith 

 shows the analysis of a rutabaga of a heavy yield variety and of 

 a superior type of sugar-beet: 



COMPARATIVE ANALYSES OF A RUTABAGA AND A SUGAR-BEET. 



The actual nutrients are in far greater proportion in the 

 sugar-beet than in the forage variety. Consequently when feed- 

 ing, weight for weight, the two kinds of beets, the benefits that 



