290 Culture of Mangel Wurtzel. 



crown of the plant,) after which, shake off as much of 

 the dirt as you conveniently can, and lay the plants upon 

 the top of the ridge they were pulled from, in order that 

 the residue of the dirt adhering to them may dry ; in 

 which state it may readily be rubbed off by the hand, or 

 a stick of some soft wood, made smooth, to prevent 

 bruising. After they are thus cleared, and in a dry state, 

 they are ready for housing, in any dry place, secured from 

 the frost. I have also had them keep remarkably well, 

 through a very severe winter, in a garden or field, cover- 

 ed with earth, in the form of a conical mound or heap. 

 In preserving them in this way, it will be requisite to se- 

 lect a piece of dry ground, on which to form your heap, 

 around which make a trench sufficiently capacious to af- 

 ford a quantity of earth to cover them one foot, or fifteen 

 inches in depth. At the time of so covering them, the 

 ground thrown over, should be made very compact, which 

 may be done by treading it, for if loosely thrown on, wet 

 will be more likely to penetrate, and of course injure the 

 roots. 



Isaac C. Jones. 



P. S. If thought most advisable, for expedition, the 

 head of the instrument for forming indents may be ex- 

 tended, so as to take in four or more sets of teeth, in- 

 stead of three, as represented. 



