188 Comparative Trials of Chicory. 



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Continent six varieties of chicory for experiment,* with the view 

 of ascertaining the kind most suitable for agricultural putposes. 

 Chicory lasts in the land longer than is commonly supposed, and 

 where only two pounds per acre were sown eleven and a half 

 years ago, and the land (kept in permanent pasture) has in that 

 time been hayed four times, there is stiU (1904) a fair proportion 

 of plants in vigorous condition. 



A bumet plant taken up at the same time had a tap root 

 descending straight downward through the hard pan to a total 

 depth of 2 feet 2 inches. Near the surface the root was one inch 

 round, and at about a foot three-quarters of an inch. The plant 

 is a very fine one, and shows its suitability for such soils. Its 

 value for hard, dry, shallow soils is weU known to those who have 

 observed this valuable plant. It met, I may here observe, with 



• These were sown in the garden at Clifton Park on 26th June, 1905, 

 in good, deep soU, and in three months from the date of sowing some of 

 the plants of each variety were lifted, and the rootB and leaves measured, 

 with the following results : — 



Common Long-rooted Chicory., 

 Magdeburg Large-rooted do. . 

 Brussels Large-rooted do. ., 

 Brunswick Large-rooted do. ., 

 Red-leaved Lombardy do. „ 

 Improved Large-leaved do. ., 



On 7th August, 1906, the plants remaining in the ground, now nearly 

 14 months old, were taken up. Underlying the soil where the chicory 

 had been growing was found a gravel bed which at the time the plants 

 were lifted was almost as hard and dry as a, macadamized road, but in 

 spite of this the chicory roots had gone right down, and were traced 

 to a depth of. from 6 to 9 inches through this uninviting medium, and a 

 total length of root of from 26 to 29 inches was thus obtained in less than 

 14 months. The small fibrous roots had gone further down, but were 

 broken off, as they were too fragile to stand the distm-bance of the 

 gravel in which they were located. The four first named varieties all 

 showed much the same capacity in regard to root penetration, while, the 

 two last-named were much inferior in this respect. The variety that has 

 all along been used at Clifton-on-Bowmont, and which has proved so 

 successful there, is the Common Long-rooted or Wild Chicory (the first 

 of the above-named varieties). Next to it we would place the Magdeburg 

 variety. The Brussels and Brunswick also seem suitable, but we would 

 not recommend these without seeing further trials on a larger scsile. 



