MANGEL-WURZELS 243 



Mangel- Wurzels. Comparison with Sugar Beet. This crop 

 is not rich in sugar as compared with the sugar beet. It is 

 grown in much the same way and throughout the same regions. 

 The yields per acre are about double those of the sugar beet, and 

 the mangel is therefore grown in preference to the sugar beet where 

 the purpose is stock feeding. 



The mangel-wurzel resembles the sugar beet in character of 

 leaf and general habit of growth (Fig. 172). but the individual 

 roots are usually much larger. A large proportion of the mangel 

 grows above ground. 



The soil requirements are much the same as for the sugar beet. 

 If any difference is made in the fertilizer for these two crops, a 

 little more potash should be used for the mangels. 



FIG. 172. Half sugar mangels, recommended as the most desirable for stock feeding. 



(Productive Feeding.) 



Planting, Thinning and Cultivating. The seeds are in clusters, 

 as in the case of other kinds of beets, so that several plants are 

 likely to come from each so-called seed. The seed is drilled in 

 rows far enough apart to allow for the cultivation with horse cul- 

 tivators. There should be from twenty to twenty-four inches 

 between rows. 



When the plants are forming their second pair of leaves, thin- 

 ning should begin. A hoe eight inches in width is best for this 

 operation. Cut all the beets in the row except small bunches left 

 eight to ten inches apart. After the whole field has thus been 

 "bunched," the next operation is to use the fingers and pull all 

 the plants except the strongest one in each bunch. This process 



