12 ESCULENT ROOTS. 



The Improved Long Blood is a variety of this, and has, to 

 a considerable extent, superseded it in the vegetable garden ; 

 rather, it would seem, on account of its greater size, than 

 from any real superiority as respects its quality or keeping 

 properties. 



Root fusiform, contracted at the crown, which, Long Red 



. , . , Mangel 



in the genuine variety, rises six or eight inches Wurzel. 



RED MANGEL 



above the surface of the ground. Size large; MARBLED 



, ., f, . . , FIELD BKET. 



when grown in good soil often measuring eighteen Law. 

 inches in length, and six or seven inches in diameter. Skin 

 below ground purplish-rose ; brownish-red where exposed to 

 the air and light. Leaves green ; the stems and nerves 

 washed or stained with rose-red. Flesh white, zoned and 

 clouded with different shades of red. 



The Long Red Mangel Wurzel is hardy, keeps well, grows 

 rapidly, is very productive, and in this country is more gen- 

 erally cultivated for agricultural purposes than any other 

 variety. According to Lawson, the marbled or mixed color 

 of its flesh seems particularly liable to vary ; in some speci- 

 mens, it is almost of a uniform red ; while, in others, the red 

 is scarcely, and often not at all, perceptible. These variations 

 in color, are, however, of no importance as respects the 

 quality of the roots. 



The seed may be sown from the middle of April to the last 

 of May. If sown in drills, they should be at least eighteen 

 inches apart, and the plants should be thinned to ten inches in 

 the drills. If sown on ridges, the sowing should be made in 

 double rows ; the ridges being three and a half or four 

 feet apart, and the rows fifteen inches apart. The yield varies 

 with the quality of the soil and the state of cultivation ; thirty 

 and thirty-five tons being frequently harvested from an acre. 



While young, the roots are tender and well-flavored, and 

 are sometimes employed for table use. 



