242 Summary of Agricultural experiments, [june, 



Root Show was obtained with Sutton's Yellow Globe, grown on one 

 of the plots. 



Variety trials were also conducted at one centre in Staffordshire on 

 behalf of the County Education Committee. 



Varieties of Mangolds (Dorset C.C., Report on Agricultural Experi- 

 ments, 1907-8). — A number of varieties of mangolds were compared at 

 four centres. Nine Yellow Globe varieties gave an average yield of 30 

 tons 2 cwt. ; six Golden Tankards, 24 tons 13 cwt. ; five Intermediates, 

 27 tons 13! cwt.; and five Long Reds, 26 tons 15 cwt. It is pointed 

 out, however, that mangolds vary much in composition, and a given 

 variety is not to be chosen simply on account of a somewhat superior 

 yield by weight. For instance, in each group, the average dry matter, 

 which is chiefly made up of sugar, may be put approximately as 

 follows : — Yellow Globes, n.vj per cent.; Golden Globes, 14*2 per cent.; 

 Golden Tankards, 14 per cent. ; Intermediates, 13 per cent. ; and Long 

 Reds, 14*5 per cent. Thus a 30-ton crop of Yellow Globes would 

 produce 68 cwt. of dry matter, of which 40 cwt. would be sugar, but 

 the same weight of Golden Tankards would contain 84 cwt. of dry 

 matter, of which 52 cwt. would be sugar. A farmer should be guided 

 to a certain extent by the composition of the different varieties, but at 

 the same time he should remember that a large yield is also desirable, 

 and that some varieties suit some soils better than others. 



Varieties of Mangolds (Midland Agric. and Dairy Coll., Repts. on 

 Expts. with Crops and Stock, 1907-8). — Six varieties were compared in 

 1907 at eight centres. Sutton's Prizewinner and Garton's Red Intermedi- 

 ate each produced over 30 tons, or \\ tons more than Harrison's Norman- 

 ton Globe and Sutton's Mammoth Long Red. They contained, however, a 

 lower percentage of dry matter than Webb's Golden King Globe and 

 Carter's Sugar Mangold, which, though yielding respectively only 20 

 tons 18 cwt. and 19 tons 16^ cwt., contained the highest percentage of 

 dry matter. The two best in point of view of total dry matter per acre 

 were Prizewinner (5,951 lb.) and Mammoth Long Red (5,906^ lb.). 

 During the season 1907 mangold crops in the Midlands showed a ten- 

 dency to " bolt." Prizewinner, Red Intermediate, and Normanton Globe 

 are recommended for growth in the Midlands. 



Varieties of Mangolds (Midland Agric. and Dairy Coll., Bull. No. 

 2, 1908-9). — Seven varieties of Mangolds were compared at eight centres 

 in 1908, on similar lines to previous years. Here Sutton's Prizewinner 

 yielded best, with 33 tons 3^ cwt., and Sutton's Golden Tankard, the 

 worst, with 24^ tons. The latter variety, however, contained the highest 

 percentage of dry matter, and Prizewinner the lowest. Estimating the 

 value of the total dry matter at 6s. gd. per cwt., Carter's Red Emperor 

 produced the best crop, with a value of £ij 8s. 6d. " Bolting " was 

 again prominent with some varieties, especially Large White Sugar 

 mangold, of which upwards of 10 per cent, of the counted plants were 

 " runners." The trials are to be repeated, so that no definite conclusions 

 are drawn from this year's results. 



Manuring and Varieties of Swedes (Jour, Roy. Agric. Soc, 1908). — 

 This experiment was designed to test three varieties of swedes, and to 

 ascertain the value for the swede crop of a manure termed " basic turnip 

 manure," which was recommended for use on land deficient in lime. 

 The nitrogenous ingredients in the manure are derived from " nitrolim " 



