HISTORY OF HEEEFOED CATTLE 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



Roots as Cattle Food 



{]\ 237) The value of roots as food for cattle 

 is too well known to need any argument to sup- 

 port the assertion. We have in our own expe- 

 rience found them invaluable as an aid to make 

 ripe bullocks and keep our herd of Hereford 

 cattle in the finest condition. We will state 

 briefly our method of raising sugar beets, as 

 this variety of roots was what we finally adopted 

 as giving the best results. (T| 238) 



As early as possible in the spring we ploughed 

 the ground deeply, and then harrowed thor- 

 oughly, going over the field enough times to 

 pulverize the soil thoroughly. Then we spread 

 over the ground, as evenly as possible, well- 

 rotted manure. Next the ground was thrown 

 into ridges, three feet from center to center 

 apart, taking great care to have them straight. 

 This was done by an ordinary plow, and by 

 going twice in the furrow, throwing the earth 

 both ways. This left the ridges with all the 

 manure under the rows. 



We found it advantageous to do this as early 

 as possible, so that the field could stand in this 

 condition for ten days or two weeks. There 

 were two reasons for this : the manure had a 

 chance to assimilate some with the earth and 

 so push the young plants more rapidly when 

 planted, and also the weeds had a chance to 

 start. 



Before planting we started a single horse 

 through the rows, dragging a plank about ten 

 feet long edgewise to level off three ridges at a 

 time, leaving a flat top on which to sow the 

 seed, and it also destroyed all young weeds 

 on the ridges. Following this with a seed drill 

 the ground was in fine condition and the seed 

 over the fertilizer. 



When the plants were half an inch high, cul- 

 tivation commenced with a single five-toothed 

 cultivator, then were side scraped with steel 

 hoes. 



The secret of success being preparing the 

 ground thoroughly first, crop kept free from 

 weeds, and soil kept loose. 



At the second hoeing the plants were thinned 



to one in a place and the vacant places filled 

 with the plants which were pulled out. 



In a root field of the T. L. Miller Company, 

 the field contained ten and three-quarter acres, 

 the yield was 275 tons of sugar beets. {]\ 239) 



Labor : Plowing, dragging, seeding, cultivat- 

 ing and hoeing was $15 per acre, $161.25; har- 

 vesting, 54 days pulling, topping, hauling and 

 pjutting in cellar, 35 days man and cart, $115.70. 

 Total cash for labor, $276.95. (^ 239) It will 

 be seen by the above that they cost a small frac- 

 tion over $1 per ton. The ground was well 

 manured ; of this we have not the data for cost, 

 but for the use of land and the manure, fifty 

 cents a ton would be ampile estimate. 



EXPENDITURE ON 18 ACHES OF BEET LAND. 



The following statement shows our cost of 

 producing 310 tons of roots, mainly of the sugar 

 beets. The average is $1.37 per ton, without 

 charging for the use of the land i or to charge 

 $3 per acre for the use of the land, it would be 

 $1.50 per ton, giving 300 tons of good feed on 

 eighteen acres of land: 



Two ploughings at $2 per acre $72.00 



Harrowing at 50 cents per acre 9.00 



Eolling at 25 cents per acre 4.50 



Eising drills, 13-;^ days at $3 per day. . . 40.50 

 Drilling, one man and horse, 2 days at 



$2 per day 4.00 



Artificial manure, 5 tons, charge half. . 60.00 



Seed, as per bill 50.00 



Ten boys hoeing ten days, at 50 cents 



per day 50.00 



One man and horse scuffling 4 days, 



at $2 per day '. . 8.00 



TOPPING BEETS. 



Six boys 14f days at 50 cts. per dav. . . . $44.25 

 Three women 5 days, at 75 cts. per dav. 11.25 



HAULING BEETS. 



Two men 15 days at $1 each per dav. . . $30.00 

 Two boys 15 days at 50c each per dav. . 15.00 

 Four horses 15 days, at $1 each per day 60.00 



Total cost $458.50 



Total yield of roots, 310 tons. 



