EXTENSIVE CULTIVATION OF THE BEET. 191 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



REMARKS ON THE CULTIVATION OF BEET AND MANGEL-WURZEL. 



T FOUND the best farmers in all the south of England, 

 L and throughout Ireland, where the soils were at all stiff, 

 increasing their crops of these roots. For the production of 

 milk they are, undoubtedly, a more valuable crop than turnips 

 or ruta bagas, though it is asserted that the milk is more thin 

 and watery. Some thought them equal, and even superior, 

 weight for weight, for fattening cattle. I think it is certain 

 that in such soils a larger amount of nutriment can be ob 

 tained from a crop of them on an equal measure of ground. 

 Donaldson says the beet yields a larger weight per acre, both 

 in roots and leaves, than any other root crop known. I have 

 heard of crops of from fifteen to thirty-five tons an acre ; and 

 in one instance, near New- York, at the rate of forty-four tons 

 an acre, from one quarter of an acre. Chemical analyses and 

 practical experiments in feeding, to ascertain their value as 

 compared with other roots, or with hay, differ so very greatly, 

 that nothing can be said with any certainty about it. The 

 climate of the United States, like that of France, is much 

 better adapted to the beet, and much less favourable to the 

 ruta baga, than that of England. The beet is much less liable 

 to be injured by insects or worms than the turnip or ruta 

 baga, though I incline to think the latter is much more 

 favoured with us than in England in this respect. 



