Cultivation of Arable Land. Mangle Wurzd After-culture, $c. 211 



than fixteen or eighteen inches, every other plant may be removed, and ufcd for 

 filling up the vacancies where they occur, or if not wanted in that way, wholly 

 removed by the hoe. In this mode the intervals can be kept perfectly clean by 

 the plough or horfe-hoe, and the rows by hand-hoeing. 



Where the practice of tranfplanting is adopted, the plants fhould be removed 

 when not more than three or four inches in length, and be planted in rows upon 

 ridges prepared as above, at the diftance of eighteen inches each way. In per 

 forming the work the holes fhould be made fufficiently deep to admit the roots 

 without their being bent. The tops of the plants may be taken off before 

 planting; but the roots fhould not be touched, nor fhould they be put in too 

 deep. A rather moid feafon fhould be chofcn, if poffible, for this bufinefs. 

 But though the plants grow well in this method, the roots feldom become fo large 

 as when they have remained in their original fituation-. 



After-Culture All that is necefTary in this crop is to fet out the plants to pro 

 per diftances, where put in in the firft methods, and keep them clear and free from 

 weeds by one or more hoeings, according to the manner of fowing that may have 

 been practifed. 



The application of this vegetable has been chiefly in the feeding of neat cattle 

 and hogs ; in which both the tops and roots have been employed, but without 

 that fuccefs which might have been expected from the manner in which it was 

 brought to the notice of cultivators. It is probable that, upon the whole, the 

 root has neither been found to be equal in quality as a cattle food, nor to afford the 

 quantity of produce, that was fuppofed on its firft introduction ; but, from its be. 

 ing of a hardy nature, and not liable to be injured either by infects or the effects 

 of drought, as well as from its leaves being capable of being repeatedly cut over,* 

 it may be occafionally cultivated in fituations where green food is much wanted 

 in the latter end of the year for milch-cows, or other forts of live flock. In fomc 

 trials, the plants fecm, however, to have afforded a large produce in leaves, when 

 gathered every two or three days from July till late in September, t Others have 

 not found the whole produce in leaves and roots equal to that of the large cab 

 bage on the fame kinds of foil, while the culture was confiderably more trouble- 

 fomc and expensive, and the crop not fo ufeful for the purpofe of winter con- 

 fumption. 



In the trials of an ingenious cultivator, the tops were found to be eat with 



* Where this practice is adopted, the roots will probably feldom rife to any great fize, 

 f AnnaU of Agriculture, vols, XI. and XII. Jbid.Yol, XI. p. 53. 



