TO1 
Agriculture is the most healthful, the most useful, and the most 
noble employment of Man. — Washington. 
vol. in. 
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER, 1844. NO, \X* 
A. B. Allen, Editor. 
Saxton & Miles, Publishers, 205 Broadway. 
ROOT CROPS. 
The greater part of these, with the exception of 
turneps, should be dug the last of this month, and 
pitted or housed, especially in the northern States. 
If kept much later in the ground, they become 
saturated by the heavy rains which usually com¬ 
mence in October, thus losing much of their flavor, 
besides rendering them liable to be injured by 
frost, the rot, and other diseases. Great losses are 
annually sustained by not securing our roots in 
good season. Last year it was calculated that the 
early snows in the northern States destroyed one 
fifth of the whole crop. In many places they were 
half lost, and in others totally so—not enough 
being saved to pay for harvesting; many farmers, 
consequently, were obliged to purchase not only 
their year’s consumption, but seed for planting the 
following spring. Few roots, save turneps, grow 
much after the first of October, and what growth 
they do attain is of a cold, watery nature, with 
little or no nutriment in it. For making cows give 
delicious milk in winter, which will usually produce 
as sweet and yellow butter as summer pasture, we 
know of nothing equal to sugar-beet ; parsneps and 
carrots come next. Potatoes are very good, espe¬ 
cially if a mealy kind; they are generally consid¬ 
ered, however, better for fatting than making milk. 
Turneps are excellent for sheep and store beasts; 
but if fed to cows they usually give an unpleasant 
taste to the milk, which is difficult to be got rid of. 
For an excellent article on the best manner of 
storing roots, we must refer to page 268 of our first 
volume. 
EXPORTATION OF HEMP. 
Upward of two years ago we prophesied that if 
due attention were paid to the culture of hemp, 
and above all, preparing it for market, that the 
United States would leave off importing and soon, 
become exporters. This prediction has already 
begun to be realized, several of our packet-ships 
which cleared for England last month having 
American dew and water-rotted hemp on board. 
If the article be liked upon trial, large orders from 
abroad will follow ; and that it will be liked we 
entertain not a doubt, as American hemp is known 
to be stronger than the Russian, or indeed any 
other grown in a foreign country. This should 
stimulate the planters of Kentucky and Missouri 
to renewed exertions to properly prepare it for 
market; we are confident that this is all that is 
wanted to make it take precedence. It can also 
be grown as cheap here as in any other country 
whatever. 
