140 
RUTA-BAGA OR SWEDISH TURNIPS. 
that one half of this tract, there enclosed, bore a i 
most luxuriant crop of grass, while the other 
part was comparatively unproductive. The 
contrast between the two parts of the field was 
so marked, that he had the curiosity to inquire 
into the cause. He received for answer that 20 
years before, the bitterns, composed of the same 
substances as those of Syracuse, had accumu¬ 
lated in such large quantities about the salt 
works, as to impede the operations of the pro¬ 
prietors, and they had been forced to remove 
them. They were carted into this field, and 
spread as was found most convenient over the 
one half, not with any expectation of deriving 
any benefit from their application to the soil, 
but simply to get them out of the way. How 
long it was after this, before vegetation resumed 
possession of a soil thus formed, I do not recol¬ 
lect that Mr. S. stated, but for a number of years 
it had borne the heaviest crops of grass he had 
ever seen, and at all times exhibited a remarka¬ 
ble appearance of verdure amidst surrounding 
sterility. 
The soil in the vicinity of Syracuse is com¬ 
posed of the debris of the great limestone ledge, 
or out-crop, which runs through the western 
part of this state. It is naturally productive, 
and is exceedingly sensitive to barnyard ma¬ 
nures. There is not a great deal of skillful or 
scientific farming done within two or three 
miles of the salt works, the attention of our citi¬ 
zens being turned to other objects. This I think 
accounts for the want of some positive knowl¬ 
edge upon the subject of the efficacy, as a ma¬ 
nure, of the lime and plaster found in the salt 
water here. Some of the farmers in the coun¬ 
try have applied salt to their growing crops, 
such as wheat and barley, with decided advan¬ 
tage, and its use as a top-dressing upon English 
grain and grass is probably increasing. 
Of one fact, I have not a particle of doubt. If 
our salt works were on Long Island, the bit¬ 
terns would be used, and would be found val¬ 
uable on its sandy soil. But I am not certain 
they would pay transportation from here. I 
once proposed to Senator Smith, of Long Island, 
to send him a boat load, for trial, but have never 
carried my purpose into effect. When I have 
seen the results of my experiments, I will ap¬ 
prise you. V. W. S. 
Syracuse , N. Y., Feb., 1850. 
RUTA-BAGA OR SWEDISH TURNIPS. 
We are no advocates of the introduction of 
ruta bagas into general cultivation in this coun¬ 
try for stock feeding, to the exclusion of our 
corn and clover crops. We have no doubt, that 
the cultivation of corn for fattening animals, 
and to a certain extent for growing and work¬ 
ing ones, also, where the soil is suited to it, is 
much more profitable in North America. 
Besides the perfect adaptation of our hot, dry 
summers to maturing large quantities of this 
highly-condensed and fattening food, which, on 
fertile lands, with judicious selection of seed 
and proper cultivation, need seldom fall below 
50 bushels, and often rises to 80 bushels of 
j shelled grain per acre, there is a large quantity 
of valuable forage furnished in the stalk, leaves, 
husk, and cob. This, if properly prepared, and 
fed, will yield a great deal of nutriment to cat¬ 
tle, sheep, and horses. Great loss has been sus¬ 
tained by the waste of these, from utter neglect 
or injudicious management; but if all are hus¬ 
banded and fed, we much doubt if any crop 
within the United States, will yield so great a 
product in pork, beef, mutton, growth, or labor¬ 
ing capacity, acre for acre, as Indian corn. 
Unlike most others of the family of grasses, 
in which this grain is properly classed, corn 
draws much of its nourishment from the atmos¬ 
phere, through its massive, porous stalks, and its 
expanded succulent leaves; and it consequently 
leaves the soil less exhausted for the quantity of 
nutriment it contains, than any other grain, 
buckwheat alone, perhaps, excepted. 
But, after allowing all these advantages to 
the general cultivation of corn, we are satisfied 
there is frequently great profit in growing a few 
acres of turnips where the soil is adapted to 
them, and the stock on the farm will admit of 
their economical feeding. 
Roots of some kind, either potatoes, carrots, 
beets, parsnips, or artichokes, are almost indis¬ 
pensable for the health and thrift of stock, as 
an occasional food. In this country, potatoes 
have formerly occupied a conspicuous rank for 
this purpose; but since the fatal and almost 
universal epidemic, which has ravaged them 
for the last few years, they have become much 
less popular, and their cultivation has been lim¬ 
ited, almost entirely to their production as hu¬ 
man food. There is, besides, a large expense 
for the seed, and a good deal of labor in plant¬ 
ing and digging. The cultivation of all the oth¬ 
er enumerated roots, is unquestionably attended 
with much profit for stock feeding, but our coun¬ 
trymen have not engaged in this enterprise to 
that extent, or with that zeal and intelligence 
which its advantages would justify. We go 
back, then, to our starting point, the advantages 
of cultivating ruta bagas. 
They yield an enormous crop. From 15 to 
30 tons per acre, or 600 to 1,200 bushels, is not 
an uncommon yield in Great Britain. It is true 
they are decidedly inferior to the potato, pound 
for pound, for feeding purposes; and they are 
below either the beet, carrot, or parsnip ; but 
their greatly-increased product, the facility ol 
cultivating and harvesting, and the fine condi¬ 
tion in which they leave the ground for after 
crops, should commend them to favor. The ex¬ 
pense of seed is trifling, as a few shillings will 
procure enough for an acre. They are readily 
dibbled in by a sowing machine, which opens 
the ground, drops the seed, covers and rolls it; 
and a horse cultivator is all that is needed for 
subsequent cultivation. Their broad, fleshy 
leaves draw largely from the nutritious gases 
of the atmosphere, while their long, filament 
rootlets penetrate deeply for the fertilising salts, 
which they bring up from the remote subsoil, 
when properly loosened with the subsoil plow. 
They are easily harvested and cheaply stored, 
as slight frosts do not injure them; they are 
