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Show M f im STOF.AGE OF ROOT CK0PS H By E. J. Dclwiclio, Wisconsin. H Root crops arc valuable lor stock H feeding, both for their content of dl- nestiblo nutrients nnd In bupplylug 1 I cucculcnt feed for tho winter months. H I Under good conditions a, large amount H of feed per aero can be grown from H roots, for this reason they uvo usc- H ) ful on (.ma!! farms where the amount Hl of land under cultivation is small. Hi Roots can probably be grown for H 1 less than ?2 per ton under favorable i ,) conditions. Tho cost of production Hl , ' per aero is approximately $35 por acre. H Mangels xlvc the heaviest yield per 1 ; l acre, with rutabagas and turnips a close second, und carrots third. H Carrots and rutabagas aro about 1 equal in per cent of digestible nutri- H te3 jSmm i Al'MMK i WtfeH T Mm' H A crosa section of nn cosily con- Hl Ftmctc4 pit for roots. Place the. jootfl upon a layer of straw on a nc)l- HJ drained location and cover with straw, H then soil, then a second layer of straw H and a second layer of soil. Then placo Hl a thick layer of straw or coorso horn'o H manuro on die outside. Dig a drain around tho pit to prevent the grbond l J " u i-beofrmlng-icaicvr-Uiggiid, - -- H 1 cntG' ani2 aro higher In this respect . ft than cither mangels or turnips. Hl jil Turnips and rutabagas do not keep H (J so woll as bo mo other roots. They H ; nliould bo fed in the fall and early B) winter in tho order named. H 3 Mangels and carrots keep well over HJ .'I winter when properly stored. H tjl Tho best placo to store roots is in a H root cellar near whero they are to bo ,u fed. Such a collar may bo a part of a H -1 barn, basement, or It may bo built H conveniently near to tho stock barn. In most places tho root house can bo built most economically of concrote Ordinarily cement is the only material that hnu to bo purchased. The gravel and sand are usually avallablo at no great distance on moat farms. While the temporaturc in a root house should never fall to the freezing point, It should be a,t a low point for best results re-sults in keeping roots. When Tio cellar is available, roots may be stored In pits. For fall and early winter-feeding, they need not be covered to an great depth. Tho roots aro put in a conical pllo about four feet In diameter on a bed of clean fitraw, then covered with a layer of two inches of long straw. Clean rye straw Is prefcrrod for this purpose. Tho straw at tho apex of the pile is mado'to form a chimney live or bIx inches In diameter for ventilation. Ditrfis thrown on the pllo to a depth or b inches. .The roots are piled as high -as possible bo, as to shed water. For" early winter foedlng tho layer of dirt should" bo thicker' and in addition ad-dition a covering of straw or horse manuro should bo placed overs tho whdle pllo,, ' - i "A pit intended to remain over winter may bo easily built. This provides pro-vides for two layers of straw and two of earth. A ventilator made of four- When sovcro freezing weather sots in tho ventilator is stuffed tightly with fine hay. In such a pit roots will keep without freezing even in tho coldest winters. If desired, tho piles may bo mado oblong instead of conical in shape, retaining tho gablo form Whllo pltso very woll so fa us keeping tho roots Is concernod, it must bo understood under-stood that they aro but makeshifts at best. A root house which Is accessible acces-sible at all times is much moro satisfactory satis-factory and moro economical In tho long run. |