ROOT CROPS. 



217 



will be sooner available. There are various modes of applying 

 them, but in all cases care must be taken that they do not come 

 into contact with the seed, as, like the salt, they have all a 

 tendency to destroy its vitality. 



In the summer of 185G, Mr. Caird, M. P., had an interesting 

 series of experiments carefully carried out on his farm in Kent, 

 with the view of ascertaining " the kind of manure which, at 

 the least cost, will produce the greatest effect " on the mangold 

 wurzel crop. 



The following table gives the quantities and cost of the differ- 

 ent manures, the produce of each plot, &c. : — 



Each plot occupied the tenth part of an acre — each containing three rows 

 of roots — the middle one of which was weighed in testing the results. " It 

 will be seen that in every instance where salt forms an ingredient of the 

 manure the produce is increased." 



Time and Mode of Sowing-. — The season for sowing the 

 mangold wurzel, in this climate, (Ireland) is from the middle of 



27 



