332 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION 



347. Uses. Turnips are grown in a small way on many 

 farms for household use. In some sections of the country, they 

 are grown in larger areas and are used for feeding live stock. 

 Rutabagas are not as commonly grown as turnips in the United 

 States, but are more common in Canada. Both turnips and 

 rutabagas are quite extensively grown in England, where they 

 are used as stock feed. Since turnips do not keep as long as 

 rutabagas, they are usually fed first when both crops are grown. 

 Sometimes these crops are not pulled and stored, but are har- 

 vested by hogs which are turned into the field. The yield 

 secured from turnips varies from 5 to 10 tons per acre, and from 

 rutabagas, from 15 to 25 tons per acre. 



THE CARROT 



348. The carrot, Daucus carota, may be distinguished when 

 growing in the field from the root crops previously described by 

 its numerous, finely divided leaves. The varieties vary in size, 

 shape, and color of the roots, the common colors being red, 

 orange, white, and yellow. Some varieties are decidedly taper- 

 ing, while others are cylindrical for a considerable part of their 

 length. Carrots are adapted to a wider range of soils and climate 

 than beets or rutabagas. They grow best on a deep, sandy loam, 

 but are quite productive on other types of soil. The cultural 

 methods are in most particulars similar to those described for 

 mangels. The seed is usually of low vitality and requires a 

 longer time to germinate, and the younger plants grow more 

 slowly than the mangels or turnips. It is particularly important, 

 therefore, that the field be free from weeds before the seeds are 

 sown. Six or seven pounds of seed are required per acre, and 

 the seeding should be done as soon as the soil warms up in the 

 spring. 



Carrots yield from 20 to 30 tons per acre. The roots are 

 handled and stored in the same manner as described for mangels. 

 The top of the carrot is of special value, having higher feeding 

 value and yielding more abundantly than the tops of other root 

 crops. Carrots are fed to all kinds of live stock, being especially 

 prized for horses. 



