1862. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



161 



For the New England Fanner. 

 KETKOSPECTrVE NOTES. 



Culture of the Kohl Rabi. — On page 61 

 of the February number of this journal, will be 

 found a brief article on the foregoing heading, in 

 the closing sentence of which O. K., of Rochester, 

 Mass., asks his brother farmers to send to the Ncio 

 Encjland Farmer their experience in the culture 

 and use of this plant. 



In compliance Avith this request, I propose to 

 state some of the more important items of my 

 knowledge concerning it, partly obtained from a 

 brief experience with it, and partly gleaned in the 

 course of researches made in several quarters pre- 

 viously to making my first attempt in raising it. 



It is to be desired that the request of O. K. for 

 information in regard to the culture and use of the 

 kohl rabi should be responded to by all the readers 

 of this journal who have had experience with it, 

 as in the more coinmon books of reference — Al- 

 len's American Farm Book, for example — there 

 is not a word of information to be found in regard 

 to it. Nor need this be wondered at, for it is only 

 a few years ago that it first received attention in 

 this country ; and only in 1857, that the attention 

 of English farmers was first directed to it as a 

 field crop or substitute for turnips. This was 

 in consequence of a partial failure of the tur- 

 nip crop in several counties of England about 

 that time ; but it was not vmtil 1847 that there 

 was any testimony in its favor which seems to hav» 

 commanded much attention. In that year, a Mr. 

 Davis stated that he had been very successful, for 

 some years, in raising large crops of this plant, 

 even upon poor soils, and commended it as supe- 

 rior to Swedish and common wliite turnips, of 

 both of which there had been again a pretty ex- 

 tensive foilure in consequence of a long-continued 

 di'ought. Even in England, so far as can be as- 

 certained from statistical accounts of crops there 

 raised, this plant is not yet extensively grown, but 

 from the most recent accounts it seems certain 

 that it is beginning to receive increased attention 

 as a farm crop. 



One recommendation of tliis plant is that it is 

 in some respects better adapted to succeed in our 

 dry climate and hot summers, than the turnip. 

 The author of the "Cyclopedia of Practical Agri- 

 culture," — a Avork of the highest authority, — says : 

 '•Kohl rabi is tlie bulb of dry summers ; heat and 

 drought are congenial to it, and experience has 

 proved that this plant grows, prospers and yields 

 an enormous crop, under circumstances wherein 

 white turnips and Swedes could barely exist." 



Another recommendation of this plant is, that it 

 stands the cold of our winters much better than 

 white turnips, and better, even, than Swedes, or, 

 as called among us, ruta bagas. The Cultivator, 

 (Albany,) of 1858, quoting from the Irish Far- 

 mer's Gazette, says : — "The Kohl rabi is proposed 

 as a substitute for the turnip, as it presents us all 

 the qualiiics required for this purpose. It is per- 

 fectly hardy, and ivill stand severe frosts better, 

 and keep in store for a longer period than the 

 Swedish turnip. It also resists the attacks of the 

 fly and the grub." Mr. L. Norris, of Ashtabula 

 Co., Ohio, also bears testimony to the same efi'ect, 

 in said volume of the Cidtivaior, saying of the 

 green-stemmed, or late green variety, wliich he 

 got from Canada : "This ra:re vegetable is sweeter, 



more nutritious and more solid than the turnip ; 

 produces a greater weight per acre ; it is also har- 

 dier, and keeps better than anij other bulb" Mi*. 

 N. says he has grown specimens weighing 14| 

 pounds. Mr. Harris, editor of the Oenesee Far- 

 mer, says it has been found hardier than the Swede, 

 and "is quite unaffected by frost, even with the 

 thermometer 10° below the freezing point." We 

 have usually buried it like potatoes, and found it 

 always good in spring. 



Another recommendation of this bulb or root is, 

 that it produces a greater weight per acre than 

 turnips. A fair average crop of this plant, in Scot- 

 land, is 25 tons of bulbs to the acre, and about 8 

 tons of leaves. These tops are larger and better 

 than those of turnips for feeding to stock, resemb- 

 ling small cabbage leaves. Our cows have eaten 

 them greedily. 



As to the culture of this crop, it is found to 

 grow on any sg*!1 fit for turnips. I have found it 

 do well on a clayey loam. As it requires about 

 six months to come to maturity, it must be sown 

 early. When sown in June, I have found the crop 

 quite small. The cultivation is the same as for 

 turnips. 



As to the use of this plant, it is said that all 

 kinds of stock are fond of it. We knoio that cows 

 certainly are ; and for them I think it much better 

 than turnips, and nearly equal to cabbage. It 

 gives no turnip taste to the milk. Try a little ot 

 it, and sow early. More Anon. 



For the Neta England Farmer. 

 PEEDOTO- CAIiVES. 



Mr. Editor : — I noticed in your last a receipt, 

 how to raise calves. Mr. Bassett says it will not 

 answer to feed any kind of grain to young calves, 

 excepting oats or oil meal. I think he is mistaken. 

 I think any kind of meal can be fed to young 

 calves to a good efi'ect. I do not pretend that a 

 large quantity of raw Indian meal should be given 

 to a young calf; reason would teach a man better 

 than this. I have raised quite a number of calves 

 myself 



In the spring of 1859, I raised thirteen calves, 

 and all the milk they had was what two ordinary 

 cows gave. I fed them on Indian meal and boiled 

 potatoes. I put the meal into a kettle of water 

 and boil it very thin, for one hour or more, until 

 it comes to a kind of jelly, and boil a sufficient 

 quantity of each to last tv/o or three days. I give 

 each calf four or five potatoes, well mashed up with 

 what meal I think the calf will bear ; turn the milk 

 on them, and stir them well together. In teaching 

 them to drink, I put tv»'0 fingers in their mouth, 

 leaving a space between them, so that at each draft 

 they can draw what they would naturally want to 

 swallow. I keep a tub of clean Avater and a box 

 of salt, where they can help themselves. My 

 calves are as good in the fall as my neighbors' arc, 

 that suck twice a day until they go awgy irom the 

 cow. II. 



aroton, N. H., March 3, 18G2. 



The Horticulturist. — The March number of 

 this popular journal is illustrated with a beautiful 

 engraving of the Adirondack Orape, and contains 

 many excellent articles on horticultural subjects. 



