Experiments in Fattenin(j Cattle. 



117 



The first three lots in this series brinf^ into contrast, under equal 

 circumstances, the feeding properties and value of mangold, 

 white carrots, and swedes. In 100 days each animal consumed in 

 each lot respectively — 



Lot 1. Mangold ... 75 cwt. 



2. White carrots . , . 96:j 



3. Swedes .... 107 



After deducting the value of the artificial food in each case, the 

 increase of weight on the animal leaves b^d. per cwt. for the 

 mangold, Aid. for the white carrots, and ?>id. per cwt. for the 

 swedes. In this northern part of Great Britain 20 tons of man- 

 gold, 20 tons of white carrots, and 30 tons of swedes are found 

 to be nearly the equivalent produce of an acre of land similarly 

 manured and managed. At these prices 



£. s. d. 



Mangold yields here . , . 8 15 0 per acre. 

 White carrots . . . .7100,, 

 Swedes . . . . .9 7 6,, 



The number of fattening cattle which a farm maintains is a good 

 criterion of its fertility, and provided that they are profitably kept, 

 the more a farmer can keep the more will he enrich his farm. It 

 is therefore important for him to know the description of green- 

 crop which will profitably support the largest head of stock. 

 These experiments show that an acre of 



Mangold yields 6 months' green food for 3 stall-fed cattle. 

 White carrots ,, 2| ,, 



Swedes „ „ 3i „ 



so that the farmer in this climate, who should grow 20 acres 

 of green-crops, could keep (with the aid of the artificial food 

 already mentioned) 67 head of fattening cattle on that quantity of 

 swedes, 60 head on the same extent of mangold, and only 47 head 

 on an equal breadth of white carrots. These figures must be 

 taken relatively rather than absolutely, for there is always a certain 

 amount of unavoidable waste in the details of management. 



In the south-eastern and southern counties of England, wher6 

 the climate and soil are more favourable to the growth of mangold 

 than swedes, and where the proportion per acre would be nearly 

 inverted, 30 tons of mangold and 20 tons of swedes being there 

 equivalent crops, the great superiority of the mangold for those 

 districts is strikingly shown by this experiment.* 



* There is no doubt that in this part of England (Berkshire, 

 for instance) it is as easy to grow 30 tons of mangold as it is to 

 grow 20 tons of swedes to the acre. Assuming Colonel Mac- 

 Douall's results to be such as would ordinarily take place, the 

 superior profit of mangolds over swedes is very great ; for the 

 money-returns will stand as follows : — Mangold 



