306 Culture of Mangel-wurzel recommended. 



of grain, have been severely felt in the last 

 year ; but the present appearance of returning 

 plenty has begun to soften the rigor of the 

 past, which was frequently intimated by the 

 wretched condition of the pigs. It would be 

 an important advantage to the cottier could 

 some means be suggested for supplying food to 

 his pig after his potatoes are exhausted, and 

 before the succeeding crop can be gathered. 

 The mangel-wurzel seems well calculated to en- 

 sure this valuable purpose, as the plant thrives 

 well on peaty soils, and the ashes from the bog 

 would probably be the best manure it could re- 

 ceive. A valuable and weighty crop of leaves 

 might first be procured, and the roots, after- 

 wards boiled would contribute to the fattening 

 of the pig at a less expense than with potatoes. 

 At some future period I entertain little doubt 

 that the cultivation of this plant on the bogs of 

 Ireland will become not less general than ad- 

 vantageous to the numerous residents on them, 

 as the benefit of the crop would extend to the 

 feeding of milch cows as well as pigs. The 

 weight of the crop, when compared with the 

 produce from the same land in hay, would be 

 as two tons of one to forty of the other, and 

 consequently the value of mangel-wurzel may 

 be esteemed as ten times greater than that of 

 grass. 



