PRACTICAL PAPERS—ROOT CROPS. 
865 
enhance the cost thereof; nevertheless, the results arrived at 
are certain, and consequently carry weight with them. 
I have compiled from various sources the following facts; 
Indian corn or maize contains about 20 per cent, of water 
and woody fiber ; wheat 80; barley 80; oats 86; rye 22 to 
82; buckwheat 40; potatoes 79; turnips 90; carrots 88; 
mangle wurzel 87 ; the artichoke 86; the parsnip 86. Accord¬ 
ing to another analysis the parsnip contains more water than 
the potato, and less than the beet and carrot, a larger per cent, 
of starch and dextrine, and less nitrogen than the beet and car¬ 
rot. Experiments in feeding show, however, but little differ¬ 
ence in their value for feeding, except in the case of carrots,* 
which, by promoting digestion, thereby enhances the value of 
dry food. 
A curious fact in the cultivation of roots is that stated by 
Mr. Stevens, embodied in the agricultural report of the patent 
oflSce for 1847, that in the cultivation of Swedes, the drills 
27 inches apart and the plants 12 inches in the row, an aver¬ 
age weight of 8 pounds would give the enormous yield of 69 
tons, 4 cwt., English, or 155,000 lbs=2,682 bushels per acre. 
Therefore, if we reduce the average weight per root of this 
crop 2 pounds, or would diminish the yield 645 bushels per 
acre, at ten cents per bushel, it would pay the whole expense 
of cultivating and gathering the crop; hence we see the 
necessity in root culture of rich clean land and careful cultiva¬ 
tion, and, in fact, a lesson may be learned thereby that will 
suit as well for many other crops. As regards the feeding of 
root crops, the flat white turnips should be fed first, then sugar 
beets, if any raised, then ruta baga, and lastly mangle wurzel. 
These last may be kept good even to Junc^ or July, with care. 
I would noi, from any remarks herein set forth, have it under¬ 
stood that I consider that the time has come for making the 
cultivation of root crops an economical or necessary part of 
Illinois agriculture at present, except in the case of small farms 
and village plats. The great drawback, however, is the scarci¬ 
ty of proper help for their cultivation at the right time ; never- 
