328 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



transplanting, if possible, for the transplanted root never 

 becomes as large as one which grows from the seed in place. 

 I now generally use about 6 pounds of seed per acre. The 

 soil should be deeply pulverized and most carefully pre- 

 pared. 



Concerning the culture of the crop I fear I can say little 

 of value. At best there must be considerable hand work. 

 The crop should be planted widely enough to allow horse 

 cultivation, using at first a shallow-working implement and 

 later one that will work a little deeper. 



Harvesting, Storing <nnl Feeding. 



The crop may remain in the field until about the 20th of 

 October, and keeps better if not harvested much earlier than 

 this date. This operation is hand work, the roots being 

 pulled and the tops twisted off with the hand. The roots 

 can be stored in considerable bulk in cool, dry cellars, but 

 keep better in piles in the field. Plough a strip about six 

 feet wide, as deep as convenient, and throw the earth loos- 

 ened by the plough out at the sides. This strip may be ol 

 any length desired, but had best run north-west and south- 

 east, as less surface is exposed to the cold wind, and the 

 snow will lie on the pile more evenly. 



The roots, which should be pulled when the soil is dry 

 and the day good, are put into piles about six feet wide at 

 the bottom and about four feet high in the middle. The 

 earth which has been thrown out is used in covering. The 

 cover at first should be only two or three inches deep, but 

 must be increased as the weather grows cooler. The final 

 earth covering should be about eight or ten inches, and just 

 before severe weather the pile should be covered with straw, 

 marsh hay or leaves, to the depth of about a foot. In such 

 a pile the roots keep perfectly fresh and sound, if the work 

 is done properly. If the cover is put on too early or is too 

 thick, they will sprout and rot. 



It may not generally be known that mangels increase in 

 feeding value by keeping up to the time when they begin to 

 grow. If fed in autumn or early winter, they are very 

 laxative in effect. As the season advances, chemical 



