136 



DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 



Turnips (Brassica rapa) are low in dry matter, containing often 

 a smaller percentage thereof than mangels (less than 10 per cent, 

 on the average) ; the yields obtained are similar to those of mangels. 

 They are especially valuable for sheep feeding, and are also some- 

 times fed to cattle. When fed to milch cows they impart a strong 

 turnip flavor to the milk, unless fed after milking; the same diffi- 

 culty is likely to occur in the case of rutabagas and other crops of 

 the mustard family (Cruciferce) . Turnips do not keep as well as 

 mangels or rutabagas, and must be fed out during the fall or 

 early winter. 



Sugar beets (Beta vulgaris) are grown for the manufacture 

 of beet sugar in the western States and in Michigan, Wisconsin, 



Fig. 24. — Carrots for stock feeding (Improved Rubicon and Danvers Half-long), fairly 

 easy to harvest and capable of good yields. (Cornell Station.) 



and other central States, and are of minor importance for stock 

 feeding. Their culture is more difficult and exacting than that 

 of other root crops, and the yields obtained are smaller, viz., about 

 12 tons, on an average; owing to their relatively high per cent of 

 dry matter, 1-5 to 18 per cent (of which at least four-fifths is 

 sucrose), they will, however, generally yield nearly as much dry 

 matter per acre as other root crops. 



Sugar beets are greatly relished by stock and often fed, pulped 

 or sliced, to milch cows, fattening cattle, sheep, anl swine, espe- 

 cially when these are being fitted for exhibitions. 



Carrots (Daucus carota, Fig. 24) are considered particularly 

 valuable as a horse feed, but are also fed occasionally to dairy cows. 



