November 17. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
125 
sound, and retaining all their nutritious properties, at 
such a period of the year as they are required for use, 
as well as in the situation most convenient and econo¬ 
mical for their consumption. 
The root to which I will first allude is the Mangold 
Wurtzel; and as it is the most tender root usually 
grown for feeding stock, the method of storing it will 
he noticed separately from that of other roots. I have, 
however, known them withstand a rather sharp frost 
when the roots have been covered with gross foliage; 
and I have found their keeping well in heap depends 
chiefly upon their being put together when the weather 
is favourable, for which reason, it is not good policy to 
defer taking up the roots beyond the middle of the 
month of November, more especially as in those seasons> 
when we get hut little frost, we usually have a suc¬ 
cession of rain, which greatly impedes the work of 
housing root-crops. I like to commence pulling and 
casting Mangold about the middle of the month of 
October, and take it away to the store-heap about as 
fast as the pigs, cows, &c., can consume the greens. 
Some parties, I am aware, do not usually consume the 
leaves by stock, hut plough them into the land as 
manure for the succeeding crop, and they, at the same 
time, object to their use for feeding on account of their 
laxative properties; but I have found this to arise not 
from their use, but their abuse, from feeding in too 
large quantities without admixture with a sufficiency 
of other food to counteract this tendency. When given 
to pigs, beans should be used in conjunction; and when 
to milch cows, hay, unless they have a portion of old- 
seasoned grass in their pasture to fall back upon. 
Mangold is about the least expensive of any of the root- 
crops in pulling and storing; and the better the crop, 
the less will be the proportionate expense. In taking 
them up they should be hand-pulled, to prevent bruising, 
as much as possible; and to free them from the earth 
attached to the rootlets, they may be struck one against 
another, unless the land is very tenacious and adhesive, 
it is then better to use an old hook, or the back of a 
knife, which will remove the dirt without damaging the 
bulb ; the leaves may be twisted off by hand, or other¬ 
wise cut off by a hook, in an oblique direction, taking 
care not to cut across the stem or crown of the bulb. 
When the roots are being carted for storing, never 
remove them when frosted, but, if possible, when dry, 
and whilst the weather is open; nevertheless, they may 
be put into the heap or stack whilst wet and compara¬ 
tively dirty, supposing time is allowed for them to dry 
in the stack previous to their being covered with earth. 
When the work of pulling and carting is jtroceeding, 
the horse and manual labour should be apportioned in 
such a manner that all the roots pulled should he 
carried to the stack the same day; but in case any roots 
are allowed to remain in the field all night, let them be 
covered with a few leaves, to prevent damage by the 
night frosts. 
In selecting a position for the heap or stack, it should 
be as near as possible to the place of consumption. 
When intended for feeding cattle or pigs, in house or 
yards, the south side of buildings, or under the shelter 
of trees, contiguous to the place of feeding, may be 
chosen advantageously, because, in such situations, it 
is unnecessary to have more than a slight covering of 
earth for the stack, besides a good coat of straw thatch¬ 
ing. The stacks are made in different wavs.; some make 
them beside a high wall, and others with a double line 
of hurdles stuffed with straw, and thatched over in both 
cases; but I prefer placing the roots in heap, the width 
being six feet at bottom, carried to a point at the top, 
the largest roots being placed at the outsides, with their 
stems outwards, to keep the heap in proper position. 
The heaps may be continued to such length as the 
quantity of roots or the situation will admit. A cover¬ 
ing of straw thatching should be given as soon as 
the heap is formed, but the covering of earth may be 
deferred for a little time. 
When the crop is intended for the feeding of sheep in 
the spring or summer months, the roots should be 
placed in heaps, as before described; but in exposed 
situations, a thicker covering of earth may be laid on. 
This root is now coming into use for feeding sheep 
after the Swedes are consumed; for this purpose, it is 
usual to stack them in the field, as before described, 
there to remain until required for use, when the heaps 
are opened, and the roots strewed over the land lor 
broadcast i'eeding, or else cut and placed in troughs. 
When the crop is taken up early, and placed in heaps 
at regular intervals, the field may be sown with Rye 
or Tares, and fed by sheep, in conjunction with the 
MaDgold, on the same land, during the months of May 
or June in the following year. 
We have no other root which can be kept with so 
much advantage, for such a lengthened period, as Man¬ 
gold, and, therefore, it is necessary, not only to use 
great care at the time of storing in the autumn, but it 
is also requisite that the heaps should be examined in 
the spring of the year; and when it is ascertained that 
the roots are striking and throwing a yellow leaf, the 
heaps should be opened, and the roots turned u\er, 
taking care to have the sprouts and young rootlets 
rubbed off, and the heaps carefully re-formed, with a 
covering of straw and earth, to keep them cool, and 
uninfluenced by the summer sun. When this plan has 
been adopted, the roots will continue in excellent con¬ 
dition for feeding throughout the summer. During the 
past season, I have continued to feed my store pigs 
with Mangold until the latter end of the month of Sep¬ 
tember, they being in a perfectly sound state, and 1 
found, at that advanced period of the summer, that they 
required less admixture with other feeding materials. 
In my next paper, I propose to continue the subject, as 
applied to Carrots and Swedish Turnips. 
Joseph Blundell. 
ANOTHER MASTER'S MASTER 
By the Authoress of “ My Flowers," Ac. 
5Ve need “line upon line, and precephupon precept,” to 
impress our hearts, and direct our steps aright. My readers 
