360 CHENOPODIACE^ 



difficult or impossible to cultivate between the rows. The quality 

 is not good, but the yield is large. 



Intermediate or ' Gatepost ' Varieties. — These have large 

 oval roots (^, Fig. 114), somewhat intermediate between the long 

 and globe varieties. They may be either red, yellow, or orange 

 in colour of skin, and are suited to comparatively shallow soils. 



Tankard Varieties. — The typical shape of these resembles 

 C, Fig. 114. Two kinds are grown, namely. Golden Tankard, with 

 orange coloured skin, and flesh with yellow zones ; and Crimson 

 Tankard, in which the skin is crimson or rose colour, and the 

 flesh with crimson rings. 



All tankard varieties have small ' roots,' and give small crops, 

 unless grown somewhat closely in the rows. 



The nutritious quality of the Golden Tankard, however, sur- 

 passes that of all other varieties of mangel. 



Globe Varieties. — In these the ' roots ' are spherical or nearly 

 so, and by far the larger part of each grows above ground 

 {D, Fig. 1 14). They are especially suited to the light and shallower 

 classes of soils, where they may be made to produce an excel- 

 lent crop, which is readily lifted or pulled from the soil. Per- 

 haps the commonest form is the Yellow Globe, the nutritive 

 value of which ranks second to the Golden Tankard. Red and 

 orange varieties are also grown. 



Climate and Soil. —The mangel requires a warm, dry 

 climate, that of the south of England being much more suited 

 to its growth than the north. The most satisfactory soils are 

 deep clays and loams, especially for the long varieties, but 

 lighter soils, except those of loose sandy character, produce good 

 crops of Globes and Tankards. 



Sowing. — The ' seed ' is generally sown between the middle 

 of April and the beginning of May in drills 27 inches apart 

 for the Globe and Tankard, and 21 to 24 inches apart for the 

 longer varieties. It requires a somewhat high temperature to 

 germinate satisfactorily, and it should not be drilled at a greater 



