CULTURE OF MANGOLDS. Ill 



perhaps so largely as would be desired, but extensively 

 enough to indicate an increasing appreciation of their value. 



If the keeping and feeding of live-stock upon our farms is 

 the basis upon which successful agriculture of long-continued 

 duration must rest, and the health of animals and the capacity 

 to digest other kinds of food is largely promoted by the 

 liberal use of roots, aside from the actual nourishment which 

 they contain, and the amount of other and more expensive 

 food that may be materially reduced by a liberal and judicious 

 use of them, the importance of root-culture is apparent. 

 It is found by actual experiment and practical test, that three 

 tons of roots are equal to one ton of hay, or in other words, 

 that one ton of hay and three tons of roots are equivalent to 

 two tons of hay, when fed to milch cows. The importance 

 of using a portion of roots for the most successful feeding of 

 stock being conceded, we will consider the kinds of roots 

 which are found to be easily grown and most profitable to the 

 farmer as field crops. 



The mangolds are prominent among the different kinds of 

 roots grown for stock. There are several varieties, such as 

 the Norbiton Giant, Long Red, Yellow Globe, and new 

 kinds are occasionally introduced. The Golden Tankard is 

 of recent introduction, and is very promising. The mangold 

 is found not only to yield more tons' weight per acre, but 

 when fed to cows to stimulate a larger flow of milk, than any 

 of the roots commonly grown as field crops. To produce 

 a profitable crop of mangolds, we will describe a few 

 of the prominent points of value necessary in their cultiva- 

 tion. It is desirable to select land, preferably a sandy loam, 

 that has been occupied with some hoed crop the previous 

 season. A very liberal dressing of manure of good quality 

 is indispensable, if the best results are to be obtained ; it 

 should be ploughed under as early in the spring as the ground 

 is in suitable working condition, and should be cross-ploughed 

 with a swivel-plough, which leaves the ground very suitable 

 to be thoroughly pulverized and levelled with the harrow ; the 

 roller should now be used until the lumps of soil are broken 

 and the surface becomes smooth and level enough to facilitate 

 the perfect working of the seed-sower. 



In preparing the seeds for planting, they should be soaked 



