1907.] 



The Cultivation of Mangolds. 



735 



autumn cultivation should be directed to cleaning-, after which 

 long manure should be carted on during dry weather and the 

 land ploughed deeply for the winter. In some cases, however,, 

 the land is laid up in ridges. Dung may, if desirable, be applied 

 in spring, but should then be in the " short " or rotten condition^ 

 For seeding purposes a deep, mellow tilth is required, and to- 

 this end spring cultivation takes the form of ploughing, scuffling: 

 or cultivating, and harrowing, all perennial weeds being drawn^ 

 out. The result should be that a fine seed-bed is prepared, but 

 care must be taken not to over- dry the soil, and if the soil is 

 clean it is desirable to prepare the ridges a fortnight or more- 

 before sowing the seed. If dung is to be applied in spring (i) 

 the land may be ridged, and the dung spread, after which the 

 ridges must be split back, or (2) when sowing is to take place 

 on the flat the dung may be ploughed in in the ordinary way.. 

 Spring manuring is ' not well adapted to dry districts, however,, 

 and if mangolds are sown on the flat the dung should have beer^ 

 ploughed down during the previous autumn or winter. 



Seed and Solving. — Mangold seeds as they occur in commerce 

 consist of clusters of several true seeds embedded in a woody 

 capsule, and this explains why several plants come up in a group,, 

 rendering careful thinning so necessary. The germinating 

 capacity of mangold seed should be not less than 120. 



Mangolds are usually sown between the beginning of Aprii 

 and the middle of May. Except in those districts which are 

 exposed to late frosts, or in which mangolds are liable to " bolt/*' 

 the earlier in April the sowing is done the better are the pro- 

 spects of the crop. Three to 6 or 10 lb. of seed are sown per 

 acre, according to the system of sowing, the quantity being least 

 when dibbled. In most cases sowing on the ridge is to be re- 

 commended, but in dry districts or on light soils the „ flat ^' system- 

 is preferable. Seed may be drilled in the first case by means of 

 small drills covering two ridges at a time, with rollers before and 

 behind the drill coulters, while on the flat an ordinary corn drill 

 is employed. For small areas dibbling may be resorted to. 

 The rows are usually from 26 to 29 in. apart when nlangolds 

 are sown upon the ridge, and from 22 to 26 in. apart when sown 

 on the flat. In dibbling, i ft. apart in the rows is about the 

 distance for sowing, two or three " seeds " being placed in each 



