1222 



Swedes, Turnips, and Mangolds. [mar.. 



It is interesting to note that the average dry matter per acre 

 in the swede crops was 3*10 tons in the last four years, when 

 earlier sowing was practised, as compared with only 2*29 tons 

 in the first seven years. It should be mentioned, however, 

 that in the later years the larger crops were to some extent 

 due to an improvement in soil conditions. There is a tradition 

 in the northern counties that swedes should not be sown later 

 than about the middle of May, and this is certainly borne out 

 by the results obtained at Cockle Park. It is not desirable to 

 commence sowing swedes earHer than the last few days of April, 

 as it has been shown at Cockle Park that a large proportion of 

 the swedes sown early in that month " bolt " or " run to seed," 

 probably because their growth in the early stages is interrupted 

 by frost. On the other hand a careful study of the tables in the 

 following pages will show the advantages of completing the 

 sowing of swedes not later than the middle of May. If this 

 is impossible it is then probably advantageous to substitute 

 turnips for swedes. The tables conclusively show that swedes 

 sown early will produce considerably more feeding material 

 per acre than turnips sown at the same time, but that when 

 swedes are sown late the feeding value of the turnips sown at 

 the same time is equal, if not superior, to that of the swedes. 



It has been the practice for the last two years at Cockle 

 Park to plough the land for roots as deeply as possible in the 

 previous autumn or early winter, and not to plough again 

 in spring, but to complete the preparation by cultivation. 

 This ensures that full advantage is taken of the good tilth 

 resulting from the effect of the winter frosts, and a much better 

 seed bed is obtained for the very small seeds of these crops, 

 which are thus given a good start. 



The soft turnips are usually not sown till some time in 

 June. The object of including soft turnips in the trials is to 

 enable farmers to judge how difierent varieties of these com- 

 pare with each other. They are, of course, sown only on land 

 on which it has been impossible to get swedes or turnips sown 

 in good time. 



It should be noted that the times of sowing apply to the 

 northern counties. In the southern counties of England 

 swedes are sown considerably later than in the north for reasons 

 that need not be stated here. 



Trials of Swedes and Turnips at East Learmouth, Berwicli-on- 

 Tweed.— In 1913 Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading, tested a very 

 large number of swedes and turnips on Mr. Wm. Davidson's 



