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Show STORAGE OF THE ROOT CROPS Concrete Cellar Is Economical and Easy of Construction Pit Also Found Satisfactory. (Py V.. J. rKMVK'Hr!. Wisconsin.) Hoot crops are valuuble for stock feeding, both for thtlr content of digestible di-gestible nutrients ana In supplying succulent teed lor the winter nionUis. I'nder good conditions a large amount of feed per acre can be grown from roots, for this reason they aro useful use-ful on small farms where the amount of land under cultivation Is small. Roots can probably bo grown for less than $2 per ton under favorable conditions. The cost of production per acre Is approximately J5 per acre. Mangels give the heaviest yield per acre, with rutabagas and turnips a close second, and carrots third. Carrots and rutabagas are about equal In per cent, of digestible nutrients, nutri-ents, and are higher In this respect than either mangels or turnips. Turnips and rutabagas do tiot keep so well as somo other roots. They should be fed In the fall and early winter In the order named. Mangels and carrots keep well over wtater when properly irtored. The best place to store roots la In root cellar near where they are to be fed. Such a cellar may be a pnrt vt a burn, basement, or It may be bulll conveniently near to the stock barn In most places the root bouse can bi built most economically of concrete. Ordinarily cement Is the only material that has to be purchased. The gravel and sand are usually available at no great dixtance on most farms. Wbllt the temperaturu in a root house should never full to the freezing point, II should be at a low point for best results re-sults In keeping roots. When no cellar Is available, roots may be stored In pits. For mil and early winter feeding, they need not be covered to any great depth. Tho roots are put In a conical pile, about four feet In diameter on a bed of clean straw, then covered with a layer of two Inches of long straw. Clean rye straw Is preferred for this purpose. The straw at the apex of the pile la made to form a chimney five or six Inches in diameter for ventilation. 11" - ' . ..xe- j Cross Section of Pit. Dirt Is thrown on the pile to a depth of six Inches. The roots are plied as high as possible so as to shed water. For early winter feeding the layer of dirt should be thicker, and In ad-dltlon ad-dltlon a covering of straw or horse manure should be placed over the whole pile. A concrete root house which Is accessible ac-cessible at all times Is much more satisfactory and more economical In the long run. |