156 



REPORT ON THE CULTIVATION OF MANGOLD WITRZEL. 



spect, more than those later sown. But 

 spring frosts are generally more severe in 

 the eastern counties of England than in 

 the south-western of Scotland. There is 

 this difference, however, the frosts of the 

 former district are generally accompanied 

 with dry weather; while in the latter, 

 they not unfrequently take place in moist 

 weather ; and we have more than once 

 noticed that frost accompanied with mois- 

 ture usually stimulates the young hay 

 and pastures to form the seed-stalk, 

 while frost in dry weather has no such 

 effect. An idea prevails that it originates 

 in the seed, from the fact of two plots 

 growing side by side, treated alike in all 

 respects, and sown at the same time with 

 the same variety of seed, but from diffe- 

 rent stocks, yet the one having many more 

 run to seed than the other. The practice, 

 too often resorted to, of growing seed from 

 bulbs sown in the autumn of the preced- 

 ing year instead of from full grown bulbs 

 — mangold being a biennial — appears a 

 sufficient predisposing cause to account 

 for it being sometimes the fault of the 

 seed. It is thought by some to be caused 

 chiefly by the use of powerful auxiliary 

 manures. The " shot" column in Table 

 II. (see pp. 150-51), shows that the per- 

 centage " shot," or run to seed, corresponds 

 very closely with the weight of the crop, 

 and, therefore, with the most "powerful 

 manures ;" but the larger crops being more 

 matured, perhaps, than the others, may 

 possibly account for this result. Some 

 people cut off the tops of those which 

 have "sprung;" this plan may alter the 

 appearance of the plant, but does not 

 affect its constitution. The better way 

 is to pull them and boil them for cattle 

 food ; they are well relished in this 

 young state. At all events, they should 

 never be stored. The following experi- 

 ment shows that they rot much more 

 readily than those not run to seed : — 



