424 THE MANGOLD-WURZEL CROP. 



seen adhered to in some parts of the country, especially 

 where the soils are strong, and the acreage to be sown small. 

 The usual practice, however, is to sow it with the ordinary 

 drill used for turnips ; and whether on the flat or the ridge, 

 the only alteration required to be made is in the size of the 

 cups, and which is readily effected by changing the spindle 

 when used for mangold seed. In about ten or twelve days 

 after the time of sowing, if all goes on well, the young 

 plants make their appearance above the ground in the 

 shape of small, delicate plants, at 'first with difficulty to be 

 distinguished from the weeds, which usually get the advan- 

 tage of them at starting. In about a week or so after- 

 wards, according to the state of the weather and the labour 

 arrangements of the farm, the horse-hoes should be sent 

 into the field between the rows, and these should be fol- 

 lowed as soon as possible by the hand-hoers, with direc- 

 tions to bunch out the young plants in the manner directed 

 (p. 303) for turnips ; the singling of the plants forming a 

 subsequent operation, to be performed in the way already 

 described in the turnip crop. 



The only difference to be observed is in regard to the 

 distances apart in the drill, which should be always some- 

 what more than recommended for turnips, recollecting 

 that the Long varieties may be placed always closer 

 together than the Globe, and that the distances apart 

 in the drill of both varieties should be regulated by 

 the distances between the rows. Twenty-seven inches 

 is probably, taking all circumstances into consideration, 

 the most suitable width between the rows, and at this 

 width the Long varieties should be placed at a distance of 

 from 12 to 18 inches apart, and the Globe varieties at 

 distances of from 18 to 24 inches. If the rows be at a 

 less distance than 27 inches, a greater space should be 

 given between the plants in the drill, so that they may 

 have an equal area of surface for their growth. It is 



