272 The Principles of Vegetable- Gardening 



in which to complete their growth usually thrive best 

 in spring and fall. 



Root crops are of two general classes as respects 

 the purposes for which they are grown — fodder crops 

 and vegetable -gardening crops. The former are not 

 intended here ; neither are sugar beets. Most of the 

 vegetable-gardening root crops are able to secure their 

 food from relatively unavailable combinations, and they 

 generally use rather freely of potash, although they are 

 also heavy nitrogen and phosphorus feeders. In order 

 to start them quickly, a light dressing of some available 

 nitrogen compound is useful, particularly if the roots 

 are needed, for a particular season. Voorhees writes* 

 that these crops, as a class, are much more exhaustive 

 of the plant -food elements than the cereals and legumes. 



Probably the most laborious part of the growing of 

 root crops is the harvesting, particularly of the long 

 late kinds. This labor is much lessened by plowing out 

 the roots. Even if the roots are too deep for the plow, 

 two or three furrows may be thrown from either side 

 of the row, and the pulling is made easier. Usually, 

 however, hand-pulling is unnecessar^^ As soon as the 

 roots are out the tops should be cut off about an inch 

 above the crown, if the crop is to be stored or sold in 

 bulk. The roots should lie in the sun until the soil is 

 dry enough to shake from them, when they may be 

 stored in the pit or cellar or sent to the market. They 

 are easy to keep. 



The market value of a root depends largely on its 

 looks. All strong side roots should be cut off, and 



* Fertilizers, p. 257. 



