226 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



germinating, vitality having been destroyed, perhaps before solv- 

 ing, or afterwards by some accident ; but these will, indeed, be 

 few, if care be talien in procuring genuine seed, sowing it in 

 favorable weather, and not at two great a depth ; if these blanks 

 are filled np by transplanting, little loss will be sustained. 

 Starting to seed is the greatest evil attending its cultivation, 

 which, however, may be greatly checked by taking the precau- 

 tion described in thinning. Any plant that may afterwards 

 start should have the seed stalk within broken, or cut off, and 

 this operation repeated, if necessary. By this means, those 

 plants which would otherwise be worthless, may be made to 

 produce tolerable bullis. 



Most economical mode of Consumption. — On all farms where 

 the mangold wurzel is grown, there is a sufficiency of Swedes 

 and other turnips raised for food for the cattle during the early 

 part of winter, mangolds not being suited for early use, as they 

 contain a peculiar acrid principle, when freshly taken out of 

 the ground, which exercises an injurious effect on cattle, pro- 

 ducing a very laxative state of the bowels, but which, in the 

 course of a couple of months, either entirely disappears, or 

 undergoes such a change as renders their use harmless ; and 

 cattle arc tluis found to thrive better on them when kept over 

 till towards spring. 



The best way, therefore, is to consume the Aberdeen and 

 other soft turnips first, then the Swedes, which should at least 

 hold out till January or February, when the mangold will be 

 ready for use. .The change from the turnips to mangold should 

 be gradual, whether the animals be fattening, milking, or store 

 catttle, in order to prevent the latter producing those laxative 

 effects above alluded to. Hay or straw should be given to the 

 cattle, between each 'feed of mangolds. The bulbs -may be 

 sliced or pulped, but they are frequently given whole. 



Value as a Feeding' Stuff. — Every animal on the farm has a 

 great relish for mangold wurzel, and thrives remarkably well 

 on it. They are excellent food for milch cows, producing a 

 large flow of milk and not communicating any disagreeable 

 flavor to it or the butter made from it. Steamed for pigs, they 

 form, with the addition of a small portion of meal, valuable 

 feeding. Horses also relish them, and small farmers, who can- 

 not afford oats to their horses, may keep them in excellent 



