28 



Manuring the Mangold Crop. 



[APRIL, 



use on this crop, at least when appHed at the time of sowing the 

 seed, though 3 or 4 cwt. per acre put on in early spring may, cn 

 light land, replace 2 or 3 cwt. of superphosphate. Dissolved 

 bones, as has already been indicated, may to some extent be 

 used, but bone meal is not to be recommended. 



Potash has often proved to be the constituent that determines 

 the success of this crop, and every farmer should take steps to 

 ascertain how his mangolds react to its use. Of the three forms 

 generally available — kainit, sulphate of potash, and muriate or 

 chloride of potash — the preference is generally to be given to the 

 first, 5 cwt. per acre being a normal dressing in the absence of 

 dung. Much has been written about the effects of common salt 

 on the mangold crop, but there can be no doubt that as a rule its 

 use, at the rate of 3 to 5 cwt. per acre, will be found to pay, and 

 especially on the lighter classes of land. Gloriously enough it is 

 found that if the ingredients of the artificial mixture are pro- 

 perly adjusted, i cwt. will, on the average, give about i ton of 

 increase. Thus, a mixture containing say 3 cwt. nitrate of soda, 

 5 cwt. superphosphate, 5 cwt. kainit, and 3 cwt. salt, will often 

 raise the produce of mangolds by about 16 tons per acre, as 

 compared with unmanured land, that is to say about 30 tons per 

 acre will be got as against about 1 5 tons on the unmanured area. 

 Needless to say, howev^er, the increase may be much more or 

 much less. 



The Use of Dung Supplemented by Artificials. — This is the 

 usual and best combination in which to supply fertilizing 

 materials to the mangold crop. What amount of dung should 

 he used per acre m^ust depend chiefly on the aggregate amount 

 at the farmer's disposal. Speaking generally, and having regard 

 to practical convenience, 12 tons per acre may be taken as the 

 minimum, while little is to be gained by exceeding 17 tons. 

 Of the supplementary artificials nitrate of soda is by far the 

 most important, and 2 cwt. per acre may be put as the normal 

 allowance. Phosphates are here of much less importance, and 

 2 to 3 cwt. per acre of superphosphate will usually suffice. 

 Although dung holds much potash, the addition of this substance 

 m the form of kainit can seldom with advantage be omitted, a 

 fair allowance being 2 to 3 cwt. per acre, though more may often 

 be advantageously employed. Here, as where artificials alone 



