ROOTS AND TUBERS 197 



Tho the artichoke has been highly praised, nowhere in this country 

 does it seem to be grown continuously — a significant fact. 



Sweet potato. — This southern crop, which may be grown as far 

 north as New Jersey and Illinois, serves chiefly for human food, but 

 is also fed to stock, especially pigs, which do their own harvesting. 

 The crop is especially suited to sandy land. Tho the average yield 

 is 90 bushels per acre, some farmers raise 200. Sweet potatoes are one 

 of the best root crops for pigs for fall and early winter grazing, and 

 may also be fed to cattle or substituted for half the corn in rations for 

 work horses. The vines, tho difficult to gather, are often fed in the 

 green state. 



Chufa. — The chufa sedge, frequently a weed on southern farms, 

 produces small, chaffy tubers that are relished by pigs, which are 

 turned in to harvest the crop. They are low in digestible protein and 

 should be supplemented by protein-rich feeds. In one trial a good 

 crop of chufas produced 592 lbs. of pork per acre, after allowing for 

 the other feed consumed by the pigs. 



Cassava.- — The cassava, a bushy plant growing from 4 to 10 feet 

 high, yields fleshy roots, like those of the sweet potato. Tropical 

 varieties carry much prussic acid and must be heated before feeding, 

 but those grown in this country are not poisonous. The culture of 

 cassava in the United States has declined in recent years, due to the 

 fact that sweet potatoes give larger yields at less expense. 



II. Miscellaneous Succulent Feeds 



Rape. — Dwarf Essex rape, a member of the turnip and cabbage 

 family, now widely grown thruout the United States, stores its nutri- 

 ment in the numerous leaves and stems. Bird seed rape is worthless 

 for forage. While rape may be used for soiling, it is best to let stock 

 harvest the crop. The plants should never be grazed so closely that 

 only the bare stalks remain, or the yield of new leaves will be reduced. 



The seed, which is inexpensive, may be sown from early spring to 

 August in the North and even later in the South, either broadcast or 

 in drills and cultivated. It may also be sown in corn previous to the 

 last cultivation. In 6 to 12 weeks after seeding the crop is large 

 enough for use. As it endures quite severe frosts, rape is excellent 

 for late autumn feed. 



Rape ranks high as a pasture crop for sheep and pigs, for which it 

 is chiefly used. To avoid tainting the milk of dairy cows, it should 

 be fed or grazed only directly after milking. Cattle having the run 

 of a rape field in the fall will go into winter quarters in high condi- 

 tion. Access to clover or bluegrass pasture when on rape is advan- 



