42] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



have also accrued from cattle eating raw potatoes too largely, by 

 hoving and swelling them. Potatoes, when raw, possess conside- 

 rable acrimony, and should not be given to a beast in larger quan- 

 tities than a peck at a time, nor more than three times a-day : the 

 acrimonious quality is dissipated by heat. It is probable, the 

 mangel wurzel would be made perfectly safe by baking or boiling. 



Its cultivation should be upon good deep soil, well pulverized 

 and manured ; the seed should be sown in April, and buried about 

 three-quarters of an inch deep. It may be dibbled to advantage 

 by having a stop on the lower part of the dibble, to prevent the 

 holes being made deeper than here directed. It is proper to form 

 a germination before the seed is planted, by steeping it in soft water 

 twenty-four hours, to forward its growth, and (if necessary) to 

 ascertain its vitality, especially if the ground is dry at sowing. A 

 proper distance would be 12 inches asunder every way, which gives 

 43,560 plants upon an acre, and would require 21bs. of seed. 



When the plants are fairly above ground, give them a hoeing 

 with a carrot-hoe to kill the weeds, and fill up vacancies by trans- 

 planting from a seed bed. A second hoeing should be given with 

 a turnip-hoe when the roots are the size of a radish, and again fill 

 up vacancies. The whole number of plants above-named may thus 

 be preserved, which, at lib. weight each plant, would amount to 

 19 tons 9 cwt. per acre, and so in proportion. When full grown, 

 the leaves may be stripped off and given to cows, deer, sheep, or 

 swine, taking care to preserve the middle leaves, which will soon 

 form another head. The stripping may be repeated. 



The crop must be taken up in October or November, (in dry 

 weather if possible), and the leaves stripped for use, leaving the 

 crown of the plant perfect ; then put them under cover in straw, 

 in alternate layers, to preserve them from the wet and frost ; or 

 they may be laid in ridges the same as potatoes, and covered with 

 straw. They may be given all the winter in limited quantities to 

 horses, cattle, sheep, deer, and swine ; and in spring, if the whole 

 are not consumed, the roots may be planted out for seed, or for use ; 

 for, after ripening the seed, the roots are still fit for use, and may 

 be sliced and given to cattle as before. 



Carrots and Parsnips may be cultivated in a similar way, as well 

 as preserved and used ; they would be extremely valuable for all 

 kinds of stock in the winter and spring months, and would well 

 repay the trouble of the cultivator. 



Weeds. These are a great plague to the plough farmer, and oc- 



