FIELD ROOTS. 199 



unused increment in the manure rather than weeds. 

 Grain crops naturally follow root crops, and where 

 clovers and grasses grow well, these are usually- 

 sown at the same time as the grain, singly , or in 

 various combinations. But field roots, more espe- 

 cially turnips, may frequently be grown as a catch 

 crop. For instance, a good crop of turnips may 

 frequently be produced after the removal of the first 

 cutting of the clover. The clover roots furnish very 

 suitable food for the turnips. 



Preparing the Soil. — If the roots are to be 

 grown for winter feeding, the soil may be plowed in 

 the fall or spring, according to the climatic condi- 

 tions and the kind of the crop. When the winters 

 are open and accompanied by considerable rainfall, 

 spring plowing will be the best. But where the 

 ground remains frozen from autumn until spring, 

 autumn plowing will be the best. The condition of 

 heavy soils may in some instances be improved by 

 plowing both in the autumn and in the spring. 



The aim should be to secure a clean, fine and 

 moist condition of the land, as the seeds will not 

 germinate in cloddy surfaces with but scant mois- 

 ture. The more free from weed seeds the soil can 

 be made before sowing the seed, the less will be the 

 labor of tending the crop while it is growing. There 

 is no time for sprouting weed seeds after spring 

 opens in growing a crop of carrots, since they must 

 be planted early. Nor is there time for the same 

 when any of these plants are grown as a catch crop. 

 But in growing mangels and sugar beets as the sole 

 crop for the season, there is time for at least a partial 

 sprouting of the weeds. There is more time for 



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