326 
Journal of horticulture and cottage gardener. 
April 11, 1896w 
MANGOLDS. 
About the middle of April being the best time for sowing 
this useful crop, which is now known under the designation 
of Mangels, we desire to call attention to its cultivation, use, 
and true place in the economy of farm management. Many a 
time have we been asked whether it is better to sow it on ridges 
or on the flat. We have answered, with a full knowledge of the 
common opinion, that there should be ridges for a humid 
climate, and no ridges for a dry climate ; that where enough 
farmyard manure can be had there should be ridges; without 
it, and with only chemical manures, ridges are not required. 
Now as to climate. In this matter we are bound to say that 
in the dry climate of East Anglia, at half a dozen farms in 
different localities wide apart, we have invariably sown on 
ridges, for the simple but important reason that we always 
use enough farmyard manure in the furrows to hold and supply 
the young plant with moisture. We regard this point of 
culture as so important that enough of such manure is always 
held in reserve for this, the best, most useful, and most 
profitable of all root crops. 
The furrows are opened with double-breasted ploughs, on 
clean land, 20 inches apart, our aim being to have a full crop 
of medium-sized roots in preference to large or very large 
roots. Keeping this well in view, we never allow the maximum 
distance of 30 inches apart except on foul land in process of 
being got clean or free from perennial weeds. Then, and only 
then, is it desirable to have the extra 10 inches of space between 
the rows for a longer use of the horse hoes than is possible 
at 20 inches. We may explain that with the wider f paces 
between the rows, however vigorous the growth may be, the 
leaves are much longer in meeting across the space, and hoeing 
is possible, and in point of fact is done for a proportionately 
longer time. The furrows in either case are made deep enough 
to contain a layer of farmyard manure 6 inches in depth, 
and for the manure to be well covered when the ridges are 
split and the furrows closed in readiness for the sowing of 
the seed. 
Before splitting the ridges a dressing of 3 or 4 cwt. of com¬ 
mon salt is given broadcast, and with the seeds some chemical 
manure is drilled. Recipes for this differ widely; 2 cwt. of 
mineral superphosphate, 2 cwt. nitrate of soda, and 1 cwt. 
muriate of potash is an excellent mixture for the seed drill; later 
on after the plants are singled, have been hoed once, and are 
growing freely, another cwt. or even 2 cwt. of nitrate of soda 
may be profitably applied as a top dressing. The expenditure 
may appear extravagant, but it is entirely justified by results. 
Be it understood, however, that an excellent ci’op of Mangolds 
can be had without a top dressing of nitrate of soda ; its use 
points to super-excellence—an extraordinary weight of crop per 
acre. 
Very puzzling would our advice to drill manure with the 
seeds be to farmers whose knowledge of drills is confined to 
heavy seed drills pure and simple. We use a light American 
drill having separate seed and manure boxes, so contrived that the 
manure and seed pass to and through the coulters together, and so 
enter the soil in the gi’oove or drill made by the coulter. We 
have so drilled manure with this and other seeds and all kinds 
of corn for many years with safety and success. The common 
fear that salt brought in contact with the seeds involves risk of 
harm during germination, being evidently groundless. It is 
obvious that in the process of drilling, seeds and manure become 
mixed with the soil and separated sufficiently to prevent harm. 
The soil is thus so stored with fertility that the roots have 
abundance of sustenance from the very outset. The growth is 
free and robust after the speedy seed germination which early 
sowing makes certain. 
The soil has ample moisture, is rich in fertility, and a» 
the roots strike downwards they lay hold of the farmyard 
manure, and thenceforward have a practical immunity from 
drought. More than this—much more—there is no check: to- 
the growth, which goes so briskly on from seed germination ta 
the clearance of the matuied crop from the land that the 
storing of the roots can always be done early, while the surface 
is so firm that carting is light, and there is no risk of harm 
from frost. For every reason then let the sowing be done 
early; if it is done well too, in the manner we have indicated, 
there will be a full plant and a profitable crop. 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
March went out with a last week of stormy weather, its rough winds 
being greeted by April showers, which did much good to the young 
plant of spring corn. But growth was checked by cold dry wind and 
sharp frost during the first week of April. In the north midlands the 
house tops were white with snow on the morning of April 4tb, and on 
the following morning 7° of frost were registered. Though growth 
has been checked in cornfields and pastures, work on the land has 
gone briskly. We have seen some delightful leed beds, with the tilth 
so fine and deep that success was a certainty in the earliest stages of 
crop growth. 
Mangold sowing is being pushed on with more than ordinary 
expedition, and we shall soon be ready for sowing the first crop of 
Swedes and white Turnips. A field of arable land which has fallen in 
hand this Lady Day will he at once sown with Oats and a full dressing 
of chemical manure. The American Excelsior drill is a most bandy 
implement at all times, and is especially so at this busy season of the 
jear, for sowing corn and manure together, or for sowing light seeds 
alone, such as Clover, mixed grass and Clover, Lucerne, Sainfoin, and 
similar seeds. 
Vegetable and fruit farmers are now very busy. Potato planting is 
being pushed briskly on, hand and horse hoes are going daily in the 
Strawberry fields. Raspberry pruning has only recently been finished, 
and the moulding plough passed between the rows on many a farm, 
owing to the hindrance to such work by the very late and severe winter 
weather in February. The manner in which Broccoli in open fields has 
recovered from the effects of 20° of frost is simply marvellous. No doubt 
the excellent plan of earthing the stems right up to the leaves in autumn 
is an excellent preservative. This is done admirably by one turn of the 
double-breasted plough between the rows, and then though the outer 
leaves become so browned by frost that the plants appear to be dead, 
stem and centre are unaffected, the crop is safe, and it is then certain to 
prove remunerative. The aim appears to have sturdy plants of 
moderate size, so well protected Ly soil and a dense growth of leaves as 
to be practically safe from frost. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Oamden Square, London. 
Lat.51° 32'40" N.; Long. 0° 8' 0" W.; Altitude 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
In THE Day. 
Bain, 
1895. 
March and 
April. 
1 Barometer 
at 32°, and 
1 Sea Level. 
Hygrometer. 
Direc¬ 
tion of 
Wind. 
Temp, 
of soil 
at 
1 foot. 
Shade Tem¬ 
perature. 
Radiation 
Temperature 
Dry. 
Wet. 
Max. 
Min. 
In 
Sun. 
On 
Grass. 
Inohs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inchf, 
Sunday .. 
31 
29-520 
42-3 
4 1-0 
N. 
41-8 
50-9 
37-8 
93-9 
36-0 
— 
Monday .. 
1 
29-684 
40 3 
38-7 
N. 
41*2 
52-6 
29-1 
86-9 
25 4 
C-056 
Tuesday .. 
2 
29-880 
42-3 
41-1 
N. 
41 7 
48-0 
39-2 
64-1 
34-1 
— 
Wednesday 
3 
29-964 
39-1 
381 
N. 
41-9 
46-3 
37-6 
63-6 
37-3 
0-010 
Thursday.. 
4 
30 126 
40-2 
37 2 
N. 
41 7 
46-1 
361 
71-2 
32-4 
— 
Friday 
5 
30*257 
40-8 
381 
W. 
41-1 
50-0 
35-2 
75-3 
30-4 
— 
Saturday .. 
6 
29-636 
46-1 
45 9 
s.w. 
41-2 
50-0 
38-2 
63 5 
33 8 
0-022 
29-867 
41-6 
39-9 
41-5 
49 1 
35-2 
74-1 
32 8 
0-088 
REMARKS. 
31st.—Heavy rain at 1 A.M., sunshine all day. 
1st.—Generally sunny till 3.30 P.M., then rain till 4.45 r.M., and large soft hail at 
4.15 P.M. ; fine after. 
2nd.—Overcast morning, with frequent spots of rain early; occasional gleams of sun 
in afternoon. 
3rd.—Overcast morning; sunny afternoon. 
4th.—Slight rain and flahes of snow early; sunny at times in morning; overcast 
afternoon. 
6th.—Fine, with occasional sunshine. 
6th.—Overcast day with a shower at 1.30 P.M. 
Temperature has fallen a little, but is in no way remarkable.—&. J. SvsiONS. 
