280 FORAGE CROPS 



tions of varieties: "Among the mangels, all of the 

 long varieties seem to be able to produce good 

 yields Ijut have various defects. The Globe and 

 Tankard varieties usually contain a higher per- 

 centage of water and are low in dry matter 

 content. Two half- sugar mangels, Vilmorin Half- 

 sugar Rosy and Carter Half- sugar, are recom- 

 mended as suitable stock to use for breeding 

 American strains. Sugar-beets, although rich in 

 dry matter, are generally so much more expensive 

 to harvest that the w^riters are not prepared to 

 advocate their extensive use for stock -feeding." 



Land, manures and fertilizers 



In the culture of this crop, particular pains 

 should l)e taken to provide a deep surface soil, 

 as the deeper the soil the greater will be the 

 proportion of root grown under the ground. Be- 

 sides, the crop requires a large area of soil, in 

 order to supi)ly the rather exorbitant demands 

 for plant- food. When the best yields are ob- 

 tained, it is frequently recommended to subsoil 

 at least eighteen inches, in order that the fine 

 rootlets may penetrate to lower depths. In order 

 to ensure a large yield, the crop should be well 

 supplied with all the constituents of plant-food 

 in available forms. When the land is heavy, it 

 should preferably be plowed deep m the fall, and 



