1920.] Swedes, Turnips, and Mangolds. 122 i 



tests with rams and ewes of the comparative feeding values of 

 turnips and swedes, and found that swedes had a considerably 

 greater feeding value than turnips, that sheep required a much 

 larger quantity of turnips than of swedes, and that swedes 

 kept much better till the late winter and spring. An excellent 

 account of the development of root growing in Northumberland 

 is given by John Grey of Dilston, in the Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society for 1841. 



For some years, trials designed to test the comparative 

 values of different varieties of swedes and turnips have formed 

 an important section of the field experiments carried out at 

 Cockle Park, the Northumberland County Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station. The main object of the trials has been to com- 

 pare the value of varieties on the basis of dry matter content 

 of the crop, but the opportunity has also been taken to test 

 variations in local cultural practice. 



Before describing the experiments in detail it should be 

 pointed out that the varieties of roots tested were classified 

 as swedes, turnips, and soft turnips, the old term " yellow 

 turnip " being discarded on the ground that several yellow 

 turnips contain as much water as white or soft turnips, and 

 should, therefore, be included under that heading. 



The method of procedure adopted in carrying out the ex- 

 periments was as follows : On a portion of the land set aside 

 for the root crop two drills of each variety are sown at the rate 

 of 3-4 lb. of seed per acre in the case of swedes, and 2J-3 lb. 

 in the case of turnips. The swedes and turnips are all sown 

 on the same date and the soft turnips later, but also all on the 

 same day. The turnip seed is steeped in parafifin or turpentine 

 for about 2 hours before sowing, with the object of keeping the 

 fly from the seedHngs for a short time after germination. The 

 seed is dried in the sun or otherwise before sowing. Up to 

 1 917 good farmyard manure was apphed at the rate of 12 tons 

 per acre, and since that year at the rate of 15 tons per acre. 

 After being carefully topped and tailed the roots are weighed 

 and samples are taken, 100 roots from each variety being cored 

 at an angle of 45°. The cores from each variety are wTapped 

 in waxed paper and sent to Armstrong College, where they are 

 carefully analysed. The sampling and analytical work has 

 been conducted with great care by Mr. S. H. Collins, M.Sc. 



Time of Sowing: Swedes and Turnips. — During the seven years 

 1907-13, the average date of sowing the swedes and turnips 

 was 24th May, and during the four years 191 5-1 S, 13th May. 



