174 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



a sieve, in one or two years, will increase to se- 

 veral rods in diameter. Into these circles, if the 

 growth is rank, many larmers are unwilling to en- 

 ter, leaviijop the crop as well as the iliiritles to stand 

 undisturbed. 



Now, what are we to do? becomes a very im- 

 portant question. In answering it, we should say 

 that the farmer ought to be watchful in passing 

 over his fields, both before and after ploughing, so as 

 to mark every new patch that appears ; and tlien, 

 without the delay of a single week, lie ought to 

 dose the root of every separate stem with strong 

 brine. A dry day is the best lor this purpose. 

 We have generally made a hole large enough to 

 hold a gill or more, with the corner of a hoe, cut- 

 ting the stem as lar down as that instrument reach- 

 es. When we have used old brine, one applica- 

 tion has always been enough to destroy them ; and 

 in this way, taking Ihem in time, a little attention, 

 and a little labor, would prevent great damage. 



If the patch, however, has become too large to 

 be treated in this way, its further progress may be 

 checked by applying brine in the manner proposed, 

 to all such as stand near the circumference. 



It should be remembered, however, that most of 

 these patches consist of a single plant with many 

 stems, unless broken by the plouiih ; and that we 

 cannot destroy them unless we attack the whole. 

 If, therefore, they are protected by fences or other 

 obstructions, these ought to be removed ; and then 

 by perseverance and fi-cquency in either ploughing 

 or hoeing, their destruction may always be accom- 

 plished, — sometimes in one, but in two without 

 failure. D. T. 



Cayuga Co. 1 mo. 30, 1S40. 



THE CULTURE OF MAKGKL, WUUTZEL, AND 

 SUGAR BEET, FOR STOCK. BY Wfll. GAR- 

 BUTT, OF WHEATLAND. 



From tlie New Genesee Farmer. 



It is known to many of our readers, that Mr. 

 Wm. Garbutt was one of the first who com- 

 menced the culture of the mangel wurtzel in this 

 section of country. And while president of the 

 Monroe County Agricultural Society, he did much 

 to introduce that practice of root cultivation, which 

 is now ibund so advantageous to farmers through- 

 out the Genesee country. Mr. Garbutt has an 

 extensive wheat farm, and keeps a good assort- 

 ment of stock. He grows large quantities of 

 roots, and considers this crop of great importance 

 to the wheat ftirmer, as it enables him to till more 

 land, and keep a larger atnount of stock at the 

 same time, to better advantage than he could pos- 

 sibly do otherwise. Mr. G. has kindly furnished us 

 with the results of his long experience in the cul- 

 ture of mangel wurlzel, which we are happy to 

 lay before our readers. 



It should be kept in mind, that the culture of 

 sugar beets is in all respects the same as that of 

 mangel wurtzel. — Eds. N. G. Fr. 



The proper soil and preparation. 

 I consider a rather heavy loam, with an open 

 gravelly bottom, the best of all soils for mangel 

 wurtzel or sugar beets. I had rather it would 

 incline to clay than sand. Strong wheat soil, such 

 as is too heavy for corn, if it has not a hard bot- 

 tom, so as to retain loo much wet, will do well lor 



this crop, ifsulTiciently enriched. Some will suppose 

 that such land will be too apt to bake and become 

 hard in summer, but that is easily prevented by 

 proper manuring and after tillage. Many persons 

 fail in tlieir root crops from want of a proper selec- 

 tion of soil, or rather lioni not adapting the crop to 

 the soil. The ruta baga carrot will not flourish on 

 a heavy soil, but require a sandy loam ; while the 

 English turnips delight in new land or a low 

 mucky soil, such as is too cool and wet for other 

 roots. 



It is very important that the ground for mangel 

 wurlzel be not only of the right kind, but in the 

 best possible condition — well enriched and free 

 from weeds. The previous crop, there.'bre should 

 be some hoed crop, as potatoes or corn which 

 should be well manured and kept free from weeds. 

 In preparing the ground for mangel wurtzel, I 

 would recommend that a good thick dressing of well 

 rotted manure be spread on and ploughed under in 

 the fiill. The quantity of manure should of course 

 depend on the richness of the soil, but, I vvould 

 say, be sure and give enough — the crop will repay, 

 with interest. There is little danger of this crop 

 suflering froin over manuring. I prefer plough- 

 ing the land in the fill, because it is desirable to 

 plant early in the spring, and bj' exposing it thus 

 to the frost during winter, it will be in much bet- 

 ter condition in the spring. 



About the first of May, which is usually as 

 soon as the ground will work pleasantly, when not 

 so wet as to clog, nor so dry as the lumpy, I pre- 

 pare it for the seed. If the grotmd be manured 

 and ploughed in the fall, I only give one good 

 ploughing in the spring, with thorough harrowing 

 (and if at all dry and lumpy, rolling and harrow- 

 ing) until fine and mellow. If the ground be not 

 made fine and in good order, it is difficult sow- 

 ing?, and the seed will not vegetate well. 



I prefiir ridging the land for mangel wurtzel, 

 although some persons contend that it exposes 

 the roots too much to the effects of drought. But 

 if the ground be frequently stirred and kept from 

 weeds there is little danger of the crop suffering 

 from this cause. Whereas, by ridging the ground, 

 the roots have a greater depth of warm rich earth, 

 and with me always succeeded better than on a 

 flat surface. I form the ridge by going through 

 and back with a light plough. The ridges should 

 be two and a half or three feet apart, so as to al- 

 low room for a horse to go between the rows. If 

 the tops of the ridges are not smooth and mellow, 

 it will be an advantage to go over them lightly, 

 with a rake, by hand, before opening the drills. 



Preparing the seed, and sowing. 



The quantity of seed required for an acre is 

 about three pounds. I had rather sow more than 

 less, as it is easy to thin them out, and the cost of 

 seed is nothing in comparison with the value of the 

 crop. Much complaint is sometimes made of 

 mangel wurtzel and sugar beet seed failing to 

 grow. These seeds are not quite as sure of vege- 

 tating as some kinds ; still, if rightly prepared, 

 and sown when the ground is in good condition, 

 before the weather becomes too dry, they will 

 very seldom fail of growing. The seed should 

 always be soaked in soft water, standing in a warm 

 \)]ac.G, for three or four days before sowing. The 

 shell of the seed is very hard, and requires a long 

 time soaking for it to become softened so that the 



