106^ ON ROOT CROPS. 



ROOT CROPS. 



The Committee would probably be considered as having dis" 

 charged their duty, when they have reported the statements of the 

 claimants for premiums and the adjudications upon them. Those 

 claims', however, having been so few, (one only) and the subject 

 being so important to the farmer, the Committee are willing to 

 transcend the limits of strict rules, and introduce such remarks as 

 they hope may be useful. The chairman alone, however, is respon- 

 sible for the remarks that follow, and hopes to be excused for some- 

 times speaking in the first person, instead of putting forth the whole 

 as the act of the Committee. 



It is proposed to speak of a few of the most important Roots, 

 and commence with Mangd Wurtzel, sometimes called Root of 

 Scarcity, sometimes Field Beet, and in Germany, always Mangel 

 Wurtzel. 



This root was cultivated considerably for stock some years ago, 

 but I am not aware that it receives much attention at this time. It 

 is a more exhausting crop than the turnip or onion ; but it contains 

 double the nutritive matter of the turnip, and will consequently 

 warrant double the manure. 



Mangel Wurtzel, according to the analysis of Mr. Harepath, of 

 Bristol, Eng., contains 136 parts of nutritive matter, (sugar and 

 starch) as often as the Swedish turnip gives 64, and as often as the 

 white turnip gives 42. The Swedish turnip has innumerable ene- 

 mies, but it is not known that the Wurtzel has any. When sown 

 alongside of the turnip, the latter is often found ruined with insects, 

 while nothing whatever has troubled the former. The Wurtzel also 

 keeps better. They often cut perfectly good in July, and even in 

 August. They will not, like the onion, bear to be continued many 

 years on the same spot, but require a new one every few years ; 

 this, at least, has been my experience. Perhaps more manure would 

 have answered every purpose. 



Manner of sowing. The ground must be ridged with a small 

 plough, and great care should be taken that the seed is not sowed 

 too deep. The seed sower also fails in depositing seed that has 

 been prepared as this ought to be, by steeping it at least twenty-four 

 hours. A writer in the Farmers' Encyclopaedia recommends using 

 an iron wheel. But a cheap wooden one, such as every one can 

 make, will answer the purpose. Upon the outer circumference of 



