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CROPS, ROOT

ROOT CROPS

Extracts taken chiefly from a bulletin issued by the Department of Agriculture and the
College of Agriculture of British Columbia

For further information on this subject write to your nearest Agricultural College or
Experimental Farm. A list of these is given in Farm News Sheet No. 46.

ISSUED BY

EATON’S FARM NEWS SERVICE
WINNIPEG, CANADA

~ Value of Succulent Feed—Succulent feeds increase the growth, production and con-
tentment of all farm animals, and therefore the quality and quantity of bacon, mutton,
beef, milk and eggs. By feeding sufficiently large amounts of succulent feeds, such as
roots, along with a good ration, the same gain in milk and meat can be obtained as by
feeding expensive concentrates, such as oilcakes, etc.

The feeding value of roots depends upon the content of dry matter, and this varies
according to variety, time of harvesting, etc. One pound of dry matter in roots has
the same feeding value as one pound of grain. It may be said that, depending on
variety and growing conditions, etc., one ton of roots may have a feeding value equal to
160 to 250 pounds of wheat.

It may be mentioned here that when dairy cattle are fed swedes, mangels, etc.,
the time of feeding these should be just after milking, and never within an hour or
two before milking, or the milk will be tainted.

Many poultrymen include mangels in the ration for their flocks. They are relished
by chickens and turkeys, and are good for them.

The aim in growing roots should be to obtain high yields. Low root yields are too
expensive, and failure to secure high yields has caused many farmers to stop growing
roots, and this is no doubt one reason why root crops are not very extensively grown
in Western Canada today.

In the majority of cases, failure to secure high yields has not been due to lack of
experience so much as to lack of adherence to the old but still valid rules for root
growing: 1, feed your land; 2, prepare it well; 3, seed early; 4, use plenty of good seed; 5,
single plants at the right time and to proper distance apart; 6, hoe and cultivate
repeatedly.

Feeding the Land—Roots are heavy feeders and require a soil rich in nitrogen,
phosphoric acid and potash. On most soils the root crop gives a handsome return
when all three of these elements have been applied.

A normal dressing of fertilizers for roots, in addition to 15 to 20 loads of stable
manure per acre, is 75 to 100 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 75 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia, 200
to 300 lbs. of superphosphate, and 80 to 150 lbs. of muriate of potash. This does not
mean that nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, superphosphate and muriate of potash
must be used in every case. If nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash can be obtained
more cheaply in other forms, these should be chosen.

Phosphates and potash salts should be distributed early, so that they may be
thoroughly dissolved and distributed in the top soil by the Spring thaw and rains. The
nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia may be mixed and applied shortly before
seeding, and should be worked well into the soil. The manure also should be applied
shortly before seeding and turned under the surface of the soil.

Regarding preparation of the soil, a seed-bed well and deeply worked is required;
fine, not too loose in the bottom, and as free from weeds as possible. :

lOVER