324 [Assembly 



popularity, and on soil of an indifferent quality, Mr. Robert 

 Rennie, of the Lodi Print works, New-Jersey, raised sixteen and 

 a half tons to the acre last year. I will postpone any further 

 general remarks, rather tlian detain the Club from the discussion 

 of modes of cultivation of roots, kc. 



The Secretary presented the following, prepared by him : 



Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. March, 1851. 

 On the cultivation of Mangel Wurtzel, a field beet, by Hugh 

 Raynbird, steward to Melville Portall, M. P. Premium, five 

 sovereigns. 



" I will now make a comparison between the turnip and man- 

 gel wurtzel, and then describe the method of cultivation which 

 has been practised with almost uniform success upon a farm 

 where beet root formed about one-fourth of the root-crop. The 

 two great properties which recommend the beet as a field crop, 

 are, that it will succeed upon soil too heavy and retentive for the 

 turnip; and that its earlier maturity, and the absolute necessity 

 for its early removal from the soil, to be stored for use, render it 

 a better preparation tlian the turnip upon those soils for the fol- 

 lowing grain crop. Another recommendation is, that it improves 

 by storing, and that it does nut come to its full perfection for 

 feeding until late in the season. When turnips or swedes are 

 either consumed or become unpalatable, and almost useless for 

 fattening cattle, the beet root has arrived at its greatest perfec- 

 tion, and it may then be used with great advantage, as well as 

 safety, for fattening animals. Early in the season it seldom forms 

 a large proportion of food. 



" Some of the most experienced graziers in the eastern coun- 

 ties, use white turnip until Christmas, then Swedes until Febru- 

 ry or March, keeping the mangel wurtzel in reserve for feeding 

 in March, April, or May ; and indeed, we have ourselves fre- 

 quently reserved mangel for beasts as late in the season as July. 

 In the spring, our fatting sheep have mangel cut for them when 

 feeding off clover and rye-grass, and the box-fed beasts have a 

 supply in the same manner, in addition to grass, clover, or tares, 

 which are daily brought to them from the field. 



