ON ROOT CROPS. 81 



able and well manured, and the plants properly 'cul- 

 tivated after they are up, the coldness of seasons like 

 the past, will not injure their growth at all, so far as 

 1 can judge. They are not liable to be cut off in the 

 Spring like corn, nor to be injured in the Fall like 

 both corn and potatoes. Late in the season I have 

 left them out during frosts so severe that they could 

 not be taken out of the ground without breaking 

 them, and yet they have suffered no i'njury. The on- 

 ly uncertainty which merits such an appellation, is in 

 consequence of the seed failing. But this can be 

 remedied by procuring plants in the neighborhood, if 

 they can be obtained, and if not, even from a consider- 

 able distance. When the seed comes up well, there 

 always will be a large quantity of plants which must 

 be thinned out early, or the crop will suffer. These 

 set out carefully in wet weather, will be as certain to 

 live as cabbage or Swedish turnip plants. But if 

 plants sufficient to occupy the ground cannot be pro- 

 cured, then as a second resort, at the suitable time, 

 sow the vacancies with Swedish turnips. The prep- 

 aration of land for Mangel Wuztzels will precisely 

 suit the Swedish turnips ; and these, though not so 

 productive as the former, will prove a valuable sub- 

 stitute. 



I can speak positively of the advantage of this 

 course, for 1 have tried it repeatedly. The last sea- 

 son I prepared one quarter of an acre of land with 

 great care, for Mangel Wurtzels. Owing to the 

 drought, I suppose, not more than fifty plants came 

 up. From about a mile distant I procured plants, 

 sufficient to raise 80 bushels. At the beginning of 

 July I sowed Swedish turnips in the vacancies, and 

 harvested about 80 bushels ot" these also. Not more 

 than one quarter part of the land was occupied with 

 the Mangel Wurtzels. And in addition to these, the 

 thinnings, with the wash from the house, and the stale 

 milk from two cows, furnished food sufficient to keep 

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