252 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch.XX. 



The culture is so nearly similar to that of turnips, that very little further 

 detail of the process is necessary. Tlie land should be equally well worked, 

 but ploughed deeper, and the supply of manure should be at least as liberal 

 as for Swedes; but we should rather recommend its being well mixed with 

 the soil, instead of being deposited in the drills. Long dung may thus be 

 employed with good effect, as tending to keep the ground open, and green 

 crojts, when ploughed in deep, have also been used with advantage*. In 

 thinning out the plants also, greater care is necessary than in ])erforming 

 that operation on turni])s ; for two or three of them generally spring from 

 each grain of the mangel-wurtzel, and adhere so closely together, that it is 

 extremely difficult to separate them with the hoe without injury to the 

 root which is meant to be preserved. The better way is, therefore, to em- 

 ploy women to follow the hoers, and draw out the superfluous ])l;ints, which 

 is easily done, when they are about the thickness of a crow's quill, and 

 before they have entwined their roots together; for if two grow together, 

 neither will come to perfection. 



The plant requires rather a warmer and a drier climate than tliat of our 

 northern counties ; and as it is very susceptible of injury through frost, the 

 seed is seldom put into the ground sooner than from the latter end of April 

 to the middle of May : on cold soils, earlier than on those which are warm, 

 and according to the state of the land, and the appearance of the weather. 

 Jn this country the seed is rarely steeped, but it is advantageous to steep 

 it for thirty-six hours before it is sown, which is found to promote its 

 speedy vegetation ; on the continent, it is occasionally wetted with dung- 

 water three or four days before being used. 



The seed is small, flat, and light, and is not unfrcquently sown by hand 

 broadcast; the plants being afterwards singled out to about fifteen inches 

 distance from each otner. The most usual, and ])erliaps the best mode of 

 sowing the seed is, however, to put it in with a dibble upon ridges twenty- 

 seven inches ajmrt; each seed being deposited 1| inch in depth, and twelve 

 inches distant in line. "When any vacancies occur they are fdled up by 

 transplanting the largest of the supernumerary plants ; though, through an 

 ill-judged economy of soil, we occasionally see the plants crowded within 

 less than two feet apart. 



The objections which exist against the transplantation of Swedish 

 turnips, as well as the trouble v/ith which the operation is attended, have 

 probably prevented it from being adopted by English farmers, in the 

 growth of mangel-wurtzel ; but in France and Germany, where the root is 

 extensively grown, it is by no means unusual ; and u])on ordinary soils, 

 the practice is recommended f. As, however, the process checks the pro- 

 gress of vegetation the plants should be prepared early, upon warm beds, 

 and should not be set out until their roots have attained about the size of a 

 goose's quill ; when it may be done in the manner stated in the last 

 chapter. 



The leaves of the jdants become broad and very succulent in the month 

 of August, and some persons strip them off' about that time for the supply 

 of their cattle. Sufficient trials have not been made to ascertain how far 

 this practice may be injurious to the growth of the roots; but, if done 

 early in the season, and to any great extent, there can, we think, be no 

 doubt that it must materially impede their vegetation. The operation is also 

 troublesome, for only the side leaves should be removed, and those upon 



* Dc Crud. Econ. de rARric, 4to. p. 288. 



t De Crud. Econ. de I'Agric. 4to. p. 187. Von ThUtr, Princ. Rais. d'Agric, 2nde 

 edit, tome iv., p. 360. 



