?50 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
AprU 18, 1895. 
germination, followed by unchecked growth. Then, once get 
the roots established in the farmyard manure, and the young 
plant is practically protected against harm from drought. We 
have striven to make it quite clear that in Mangold culture we 
value farmyard manure much more for its retention of moisture 
than for the modicum of plant food which the plant can obtain 
from it. 
It is to the rich store of fertility imparted to the soil by the 
chemical manure that we look for the promotion of rapid and 
robust growth. To turn this to full account let the singling of 
the plants be done as soon as they are large enough to handle. 
The distance apart is anything from 12 up to 20 inches, according 
to sort and soil. It is probable that more nutritious roots are 
obtained when they are 14 or 16 inches apart than at the greater 
distance. Frequently annual weeds appear so thickly around 
the Mangold plants, that without prompt attention to singling 
and hand-hoeing they would either be smothered or so much 
drawn up into slender growth as to be worthless. 
Marvellous is the rapidity of growth after the singling and 
first hoeing. This is owing mainly to the quick action of the 
nitrate of soda, and also to the solvent power of the common 
salt. With full exposure to light and air the growth is also 
sturdy and robust. It is important when singling to know if 
there are to be one or more surface dressings of nitrates subse¬ 
quently. If so, then the plants will require more space than 
they would do without it The weeds are never suffered to 
become large, hoeing by horse and hand being done often 
enough to destroy them as they appear. There is then prac¬ 
tically no waste of soil fertility, and by the time the spreading 
leafage puts a stop to hoeing there i^ a clean surface, and our 
work of cultivation is ended. We like to have this done before 
“ haysel,” every available hand being required to save the hay; 
but the growth of the Mangold plant is not always sufficiently 
advanced to admit of this, anl though the haymaking is impor¬ 
tant, it must not be allowed to absorb labour to the detriment of 
the Mangolds. We require both roots and fodder for winter 
provision, and by a little judicious management both can have 
due attention. 
Early sowing points to early maturity, and a clearance of 
the crop before there is any serious risk of harm to it from 
frost. In warm, late autumns the temptation to leave out the 
Mangolds on the land for weeks after they ought to be in 
clamp proves irresistible to many worthy farmers, who, when a 
sudden change comes to cold and wet, find themselves in diffi¬ 
culties which, by the exercise of a little decision and prudence, 
might have been avoided Let our aim be, then, to obtain a big 
crop of small roots, which, weight for weight, are altogether 
more useful and more nutritious than large roots. To get them 
off the land early in the autumn before there is much risk of 
severe frost, to store them so well for winter and spring use as 
to feel confident that frost of exceptional severity can never 
reach them, and if clamps are made to place them close by a 
hard road, or where the roots are to be used. 
WOEK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Is it a sign and token of inferior workmanship, of deterioration in 
skill of farm labourers of the present day, that so many ricks have been 
stripped of thatch by equinoctial gales? Never before have we seen 
such damage of this sort from wind, and we are convinced that very 
much of the damage might have been avoided had the workmanship 
been less superficial in character. The custom of using short wooden 
pins and rope yarn in rick-thatching is decidedly wrong ; we require 
much longer pins, and the thatch so secured that, though high wind may 
pffle, it cannot blow it off. Let this and kindred matters be taken 
into schemes for technical education, and let certificates be granted for 
the best workmanship, and thus form an incentive to workmen, such as 
wages never can do. 
Recent alterations at a homestead, which we were asked to inspect 
and report on, gave us something to commend and something to 
blame. The dairy was excellent, the fittings being simple and efficient, 
the ventilation good, the walls faced with white glazed tiles, the whey 
and separated milk passed by a pipe to a cistern near the piggery, 
and water laid on, The cheese room was equaUy good, being com¬ 
modious, having ample shelving, proper ventilators, and a stove for 
ripening cheese. The faults were in the outbuildings, where, with 
plenty of space roofed in, no provision had been made for calf rearing, 
there was no poultry house, and no cart hovel. All these things are 
indispensable, and yet had been overlooked, simply because the repairs 
had been entrusted to a builder who knew nothing of farming. 
Let poultry and pigs have the special attention which they require 
in the spring. In both of these inoporfant matters we can venture on a 
surplus of stock over possible requirements, so as to be able to select the 
best of each, and to discard for sale all that are not wanted. The fact 
of so much lean poultry being imported from Ireland for fattening 
should act as an incentive to every farmer to raise very considerable 
numbers of chickens as an article of farm produce, for which there is 
always a profitable sale, and as an outlet for some of the cheap corn. 
EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 
An interesting report has just been published by the Federal 
Government of Canada, giving an exhaustive description of the various’ 
experimental farms which have recently been established within this 
vast territory. The primary object of this movement is the improvement 
of agricultural methods and the education of immigrating farmers in the 
proper equipments and the instruments necessary for the cultivation of 
the land. 
It appears that the central experimental farm is situated near 
Ottawa, comprising over 500 acres of land and a complete outfit of 
buildings and the necessary machinery. The buildings are beautifully 
fitted for cattle, horses, pigs, and poultry, and all of these are well 
stocked. There is also a dairy, equipped with the modern appliances 
for carrying on experimental work ; and a seed testing and propagating 
house, as well as a conservatory. In addition to this central station 
there are eleven experimental farms situated in different parts of 
Canada, and these carry on expeiiments in agriculture, horticulture, and 
arboriculture with much profit. 
The Government has arranged that these farms should be so situated 
as to render them as helpful as possible to the most thickly populated 
d stricts, and in their equipments and general methods they resemble 
closely the central station. The staff of workers at the central experi¬ 
mental farm includes a director, an agriculturist, a horticulturist, a 
botanist, an entomologist, and a chemist. There is also a poultry 
manager, a “ foreman of forestry,” and several assistants to assist the 
members of the staff. The work is varied in nature, and has to do with 
practically everything which relates to farming in Canada. Experi¬ 
ments are also carried on to determine the vitality and purity of various 
agricultural seeds, and to investigate the nature of the diseases of plants 
and trees, and the cure for the ravages of insects. Various kinds of 
fertilisers are tested to determine their comparative value with different 
soils and crops. 
The study of the care of animals is also a very important interest, 
and the value of different breeds of stock, and their adaptability to 
various climates and other conditions, are carefully investigated. These 
stations also examine the scientific and economic sides of butter and 
cheese making. Experiments are also carried on to determine the best 
methods of planting and pruning trees for fruit raising or for shelter 
or timber.—(“Echo.”) 
OUR LETTER BOX. 
Pig- Management (^Novice ).—“ Live Stock,” price 2s. Gd., Vinton 
and Co., 9, New Bridge Street, London, E.C , contains the information 
you require on the management of pigs. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
Oamden Squarb, London. 
Lat.51°32'40"N.; Long. 0° 8/0" W.: Altitude 111 feet. 
Date. 
9 A.M. 
IN THE Day. 
Rain. 
1895. 
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. 
Oa 
Grass. 
Inchs. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
deg. 
Inohs. 
Sunday .. 
7 
29-366 
48-7 
44-2 
N. 
43-1 
49-3 
42 4 
70-J 
38-8 
0-040 
Monday .. 
8 
29 818 
44-9 
41-3 
N.W. 
41 9 
571 
35-0 
87-7 
29 9 
— 
Tuesday .. 
9 
29-938 
52-9 
50-1 
S.W. 
43-3 
63-9 
45-6 
103-0 
43-1 
— 
Wednesday 
10 
30 042 
52-2 
49-6 
s.w. 
45-1 
62-1 
46-5 
98-2 
42-0 
— 
Thursday.. 
11 
30*319 
51-9 
46-8 
N.W. 
45 1 
62-3 
37-3 
106-6 
31-1 
— 
Friday 
12 
30-392 
45 2 
42 0 
N. 
46-0 
67-4 
37-5 
102-8 
33-5 
— 
Saturday .. 
13 
30-276 
49-7 
40 4 
N.E. 
45-8 
56-1 
33-8 
97-6 
28 0 
— 
30-022 
’ 49-4 
44-9 
44-2 
58-3 
39-7 
95-6 
35-2 
0-040 
REMARKS. 
7th.—Showers in the small hours, and one or two smart showers in the morning; 
frequent sunshine in the afternoon ; bright evening, a little misty. 
8th.—Generally overcast in the morning; sunny afternoon. 
9th.—Sunny and mild throughout. 
10th.—Overcast, with gleams of sun in the morning ; generally bright in the afternoon, 
lltb.—A perfect spring day. 
12th.—Eine and pleasant, but frequently cloudy. 
13th.—Generally fine. 
A fine week, and getting warmer.—G. J. SviiONS. 
