FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 201 



He gives a preference to this root, having tried all others, 

 particularly for fating Neat-cattle, Sheep, and Store-hogs; 

 and says that to some Horses it is grateful and nutritive, 

 though some refuse to eat it. 



See PUMPKIN, for a method of learning any Horse to 

 eat that food, which no doubt will answer equally well for 

 this. 



The leaves, he says, which are very abundant, are supe- 

 rior to any other green herbage, now in common use, both 

 in quality and quantity, for soiling. 



See SOILING But see also GUINEAGRASS. 



They may be frequently striped off during the season, 

 leaving the heart-shoots, or leaflets, and the roots will, on 

 this account, grow the better. Some mow them off, taking 

 care not to cut too close to the roots. 



Mr. Peters cultivates this root, with success, on loamy 

 land, with some mixture of sand in it. The land was 

 formerly trench-ploughed. Rich, deep, loamy soils are 

 properly adapted to its culture ; and on such, we think, 

 there can be no doubt of its being more profitable to culti- 

 vate than any other root, especially when the leaves are 

 used for soiling. 



Steamboiling the roots renders them more nutritive and 

 efficient for the purpose of fating cattle. Those which are 

 stored for Winter and Spring-use must be protected from 

 frost; though, if they should become frozen, they may be 

 used for cattle, before they have thawed, by extracting the 

 frost from them in water, in the manner directed for 

 turnips. 



See TURNIP, 



The roots should not be stored away, until the moisture 

 on the exterior part has been dried: They may then be 

 kept in dry sand, to protect them from frost; or they may 

 be kept without sand, in a place sufficiently guarded against 

 frost, as described under TURNIP ; in which way they will 

 remain fresh and sound, as long as they are wanted for the 

 Winter and Spring supply. 



Having observed thus much, on the culture of this excel- 

 ent root, we shall give the Reader an extract from the 

 third Volume of the * Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society 

 for promoting Agriculture ;* which we presume will be 

 found sufficient to teach the Inexperienced the proper 

 mode of culture, and to convince every one of the superior 

 excelence of this root. 



[The following account of methods used in the cultivation 

 of the improved beetroot, or mangle wurtzel, is taken from 

 a recent publication by Mr. Finder Simpson, of the county 



26 



