56^ 



Bulletin 317 



The aim should be to bury the seed where there is sufficient moisture, 

 without covering it too deep for the seedHngs to break through the soil 

 crust after sprouting. 



Cultivation. — The first cultivation of mangels is best given with wheel 

 hoes astride the rows. If the rows are straight, the hoes may be set 

 so close together that a very narrow row is left unhoed between them. 

 This will kill most of the weeds that have sprouted as a result of firming 

 the soil above the mangel seed. This cultivation should be given as soon 



Fig. 156. — Horse cultivation and hand hoeing follow thinning as soon as the 



mangels are large enough 



as the rows of mangel seedlings can be plainly seen. If the weeds are 

 not all killed close to the row the first time over, the hoe blades should 

 be reversed and the wheel hoe driven once on each side of the row and 

 as close to it as possible without injuring the mangels. This hoeing may 

 be deeper than the first one and will loosen dirt and kill weeds well out 

 to the middle of the row. 



Weeding and thinning the mangel plants may be done first with a hand 

 hoe, by cutting out of the row most of the plants not needed for a full 

 stand. This process is called " bunching." Bunches of mangel plants 

 are left standing in the row about 10 or 12 inches apart if the soil is fertile 

 and a large variety is grown. This bunching should be done before the 

 sixth leaf appears on the mangel seedling. The hardest task in con- 



