416 THE MANGOLD-WURZEL CROP. 



obstruct the main or tap-root; while manure applied at 

 the time of sowing, especially if it be in a fresh or long 

 state, has a tendency not only to obstruct the tap-root, 

 but also to induce a development of lateral roots, and to 

 give them that stunted and fibrous character so indica- 

 tive of a careless cultivation, and which is comntonly 

 known by the term " fuzzy." In order to avoid this latter 

 frequent source of injury, it is always desirable to avoid 

 using green manure to the mangold crop, and t apply it 

 only in a more or less decomposed state, according to the 

 time at which it is used. If not applied until the time of 

 sowing, it is more important that it should be well rotted 

 than if ploughed in with the winter furrow. 



The general practice in this country is to manure 

 directly for the crop, and to apply it at the time of sow- 

 ing rather than at the time of ploughing the land in- 

 tended for the crop in the autumn. On the Continent 

 the evidence is in favour of manuring the land heavily 

 for the preceding crops, and then planting the mangold, 

 without additional manure, and allowing it to range 

 through the richly charged soil, with the certainty of 

 finding the ingredients necessary for its growth, which 

 by this time have become intimately incorporated with 

 and distributed through the soil, and thus placed not 

 only more within its reach, but also in a more assimi- 

 lable form. Where this method has been practised the 

 results have been very satisfactory, 1 which would at all 



1 At one of the monthly meetings of the Royal Agricultural Sjfociety (April, 

 1852), Mr. Gadesden, of Ewell Castle, in describing Mr. Reeve's mode of culti- 

 vating sugar beet and mangold-wurzel at Randall's Park Farm, Leatherhead 

 (Surrey), stated that his crop last year was 38 tons 16 cwts. to the acre of the 

 sugar beet, and 39 tons 13 cwts. to the acre of mangolds. Mr. Reeve attributed 

 his success in growing these roots to his not applying manure directly to the 

 crops, and stated that when he had dunged for them the bulbs proved small, 

 and had a large mass of "fuzzy" fibres, and gave but a small weight per acre, 

 viz., from 15 to 18 tons; but that since he had put his manuring matter far- 

 ther off the crop, he had raised fine large roots, and a much greater weight 

 per acre. 



