Derby Frize-Farm Competition, 1881. 
507 
The crop is consumed from September to Christmas. 
Mangolds are all sown on ridges 27 inches apart. 
The land ploughed in autumn and pulverised by frost is 
worked and ridged in March or early in April ; 15 loads of dung 
per acre are put in ridges, and the same dressing of artificials 
is given as for cabbages, with the addition of 3 cwts. per acre of 
salt. I like to sow them early in April, if the spring bo favour- 
able. Unless sown early in this county, they rarely make a 
full crop, and the hotter the season the better they thrive. After 
the mangolds are sown, the swede-land is prepared in the same 
way, 8 to 10 loads of dung, and the same superphosphate and 
guano being added, but no salt or nitrate of soda. I like to 
sow swedes early in May, as they do not often mildew. I often 
grow swedes without farm dung, but with a larger dressing of 
artificials, and they succeed well. Great care is used to get a 
good tilth and not to go on in wet weather. White turnip 
sowing succeeds that of swedes. The whole of the roots are 
carted off the land. 
I have every year succeeded in winning prizes for roots, 
generally both for growing crops and pulled roots, at the 
County and District Society's competitions. Last year I won 
1st for each sort of mangolds, and 2nd for a collection at the 
Staffordshire Show ; and 1st swedes, 1st cabbages, and 2nd man- 
golds for the best crops in the Uttoxeter district, about 10 miles 
(each way). 
The artificial dressing for roots costs as follows : — 
Per Acre. 
£ S. d. 
4 cwts. mineral superphosphates, at Os. Qd. = 0 14 0 
3 cwts. fish-guano, at 8s. (it? = 1 5 G 
1 19 G 
Roots are repeated more frequently on those fields where the 
soil is most suited for root-growing and which are nearest the 
homestead, and thus most convenient for carting roots off and 
dung on. 
With my limited quantity of arable land, I find any strict 
adherence to rotation of cropping unnecessary and undesirable. 
Most of the dung made in the winter is applied for roots. 
Any remaining over is applied to mowing land after it is cleared 
in July, or after the first-grown aftermath is eaten off. It always 
answers well applied at such times, which are preferred to tlae 
winter. 
Some dung is also occasionally spared for top-dressing young 
turf. 
