CLASS OF SOILS SUITABLE. 



409 



the mangold. It contains a larger percentage of sugar, 

 for which purpose it is generally cultivated; but its weight 

 per acre, and consequently Fig. 3. 



food-produce, is far below 

 an ordinary crop of man- 

 gold. 



The "mangold-wurzel" 

 has a wide range of soils, 

 and thus offers an oppor- 

 tunity to farmers for in- 

 troducing it into their 

 regular rotations over the 

 greater portion of the 

 country. Like most of 

 our other farm plants, the 

 extreme classes of soils 

 light sands and strong 

 clays are those least 

 suitable to it; but of the 

 two extremes the latter 

 would be the least unfa- 

 vourable, as mangold na- 

 turally thrives best in soils containing a certain amount of 

 argillaceous matter. Indeed, on some of our strongest clays, 

 such as those met with in the London basin, where, by 

 thorough draining and deep tillage, the surface has under- 

 gone a change in its mechanical condition, we frequently 

 see crops of a most vigorous and productive growth, far 

 beyond what we ever meet with on the light sandy soils, 

 even under the most favourable conditions of cultivation. 

 These latter soils, again, are better suited for other root 

 crops, as carrots and turnips, of which, when well farmed, 

 they give equally productive and remunerative returns. 

 The medium classes of soils are those in which the man- 

 gold delights those in which there is a sufficient proper- 



