432 THE MANGOLD-WUKZEL CROP. 



root -growth of the unstripped over the stripped roots, 

 and from it we deduce the following important conclusion 

 that as long as the mangold leaf is in a fit state to be 

 useful as food for cattle, so long is it important to the 

 well-being of the plant itself." 



Now let us see what evidence we have to meet this 

 strong charge of injury inflicted on the crop by this ques- 

 tionable practice of stripping. This is at once supplied 

 by an experimental trial made at the Albert Model Farm, 

 Glasnevin, 1 last season, the results of which not only testify 

 to the absence of any injury sustained by the practice, but 

 also that, if properly carried out, the root crop is actually 

 benefited by it, the produce of roots per acre being increased 

 in addition to the large supply of valuable food obtained 

 from the stripped leaves. It appears to have been the 

 custom of the institution, for several years past, to strip 

 the mangolds at certain periods of their growth, and give 

 the leaves to the dairy cows. " An experiment was insti- 

 tuted last season, and carefully carried out on a pretty 

 large scale, with the view of determining whether the roots 

 gained or lost in weight by the stripping off at intervals of 

 the falling outside leaves. The leaves, it must be borne 

 in mind, were most carefully and rather sparingly removed 

 at the first and second strippings, and not more than three 

 or four taken from a plant at one time. In this way 5 tons 

 of leaves per statute acre were taken off for feeding pur- 

 poses from the 12th August to the 15th October. The 

 experiment was carried out on 4 acres of the mangold crop : 

 twelve drills, each 200 yards in length that being the 

 entire length of the field were left untouched, whilst the 

 remaining portion of the crop was treated as above de- 

 tailed. It is deserving of remark that there was no appa- 

 rent difference in the two lots at any period during the 

 season, and the crop was considered by the numerous 



1 The full details are given in Agri. Gaz., Jan. 7, I860. 



