No. 4.] 



FIKL1) CROPS. 



327 



Nitrogen, 

 Phosphoric acid, 

 Potash, . 



The crop aimed at and provided for by these fertilizers 

 was 30 tons. The season, because of its dryness, was un- 

 favorable, and our harvest was but about one-half that 

 quantity. 



I would call particular attention to the enormous quantity 

 of potash required by this crop, and would further say that 

 the muriate is with little doubt the best form of potash for 

 the mangel. You will remember that I have stated that 

 the beet was originally a seaside plant. This fact perhaps 

 accounts for its flourishing in the presence of more chlorine 

 than suits most crops. In case manure is depended upon 

 for the three leading elements of fertility, I have always 

 found the application of common salt favorable to the man- 

 gel ; about 200 pounds per acre is ordinarily sufficient. 



Manure at the rate of 8 or 10 cords per acre is not too 

 much for the mangel, and with that amount I would ordi- 

 narily employ about 150 pounds of nitrate of soda, 200 

 pounds of muriate of potash and perhaps 150 pounds of 

 plain superphosphate. With a crop involving so much 

 labor as this, w T e cannot afford to run the risk of partial 

 failure because of insufficient fertility. 



Planting and Culture. 



The mangel should be planted early, thai it may have the 

 advantage of the comparatively cool and moist weather of 

 early spring to get well and deeply rooted. Under these 

 conditions, with abundant fertility, it is far less injuriously 

 affected by heat and drought. 



The seed is of rather slow and uncertain germination, and 

 hence should be used in large amount. We must avoid 



