On Mangel WurtzeL 127 



blance. But the most essential uses of this root, are 

 those applicable to rural economy. For cattle, sheepy 

 and store hogs, no root» within my knowledge, can com- 

 pete with it. I have had horses, to whom it was 

 grateful and nutritive ; though some would refuse it. 

 My sheep were remarkably fond of it. The leaves^ 

 which are very abundant, may be stripped or cut fre- 

 quently through the season ; leaving the heart shoots 

 or leaflets ; and the root will thrive the better for the 

 stripping. For milch cows, they are superior to any 

 other green herbage ; and the quantity afforded by 

 them exceeds that of any other plant cultivated on a 

 similar extent of ground. Those who prefer the soil- 

 ing system, would do well to try the experiment. I 

 believe good seed may be had of some of the seeds- 

 men ; who would, if encouraged, soon have it in great 

 plenty. 



European accounts of the weight of roots from an 

 acre, and the almost incredible quantity of leaves to 

 be gathered in a season ; would appear exaggerated to 

 those unacquainted with this plant. I therefore forbear 

 to mention them. The greatest produce can be had 

 by cultivating in broad cast ; and hand-hoeing. The 

 mode I followed, as hereafter detailed, will not equal 

 in product, what increase of the number of drills, and 

 multiplying plants, either in drills or broad- cast, would 

 accomplish. But I spread over surface, and left unoc- 

 cupied intervals, to bring it into the best order for fu- 

 ture crops ; and thus to afford room for working with 

 instruments calculated to save manual labour. 



I have cultivated carrots and parsnips, in the field, 

 with great success. Those, \wi\\\ turnips and potatoes. 



