200 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



this in growing rutabagas because of the late plant- 

 ing season, and still more time in growing turnips, 

 since the turnips are planted later than the rutabagas. 



Farmyard manure is excellent for such 'crops. 

 AAHiere the land is plowed in the fall, the manure 

 should be applied before the plowing is done, except 

 when the soils are leachy. The manure should then 

 be spread on the surface after the land is plowed. 

 It may also be spread on the land in autumn or win- 

 ter when it is to be plowed in the spring. When 

 thus applied in the fresh form in the autumn it 

 becomes incorporated in the soihby the cultivation 

 given to th^ land before sowing the seed. But unre- 

 duced manure should not be thus applied in climates 

 over-dry. Complete commercial fertilizers are the 

 best for the production of field roots. They require 

 a liberal feeding of phosphates, hence finely ground 

 bones have been found specially helpful in the pro- 

 duction of field roots. 



Sowi>ig. — In localities with ample moisture it is 

 considered preferable to sow the seed of all kinds 

 of field roots in raised drills when grown as food for 

 live stock. But where moisture is not abundant in 

 the growing season, it is deemed preferable to sow 

 the seed in unraised rows, as the needed moisture 

 escapes more readily from the former. But when 

 sown in raised drills the cultivation given may begin 

 somewhat earlier and the hand hoeing is more easily 

 done. The raised drills can be more quickly made 

 by using a double mold-board plow and a marker. 

 The distance between them will vary with the kind of 

 roots grown and with other conditions, but usually 

 it is not less than twenty, or more than thirty inches. 



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