MANGOLD wURTZEL.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 31, 11 February 1875, Page 3

MANGOLD wURTZEL.

The following on the growth of this valuable root-crop is from, a lecture je-/ cently delivered oefqre' the Canterbury *< Agricultural Agsobiatibnby Mr Joseph. . Clarke, of Kaiapoi. -This is one of t the most productive rpot ; crops that can he grown. * I liaye seen from forty to fifty tons per acre. growing on' my. farm, Ibut ■ it is a very exhaustive, crop, and for this reason ' will ' not be' extefhsiveTy g^own.here, although.it is a very -useful root for stock when the turnips are eaten off. Turnips begin to run to seed in September, and then if mangolds are used till'the middle of October it- is- ' astonishing what a fine conditibn stock can be brought to, besides ..grsiss. paddocks have time to get a sward and. good bite on, them before stock is.turned on. Two or three loads bf mangolds to every 100* sheep per week will keep them in prime condition and pigs may be kept in first-class store condition, as mangolds can be kept fresh till harvest. Description of Land. — The best is a strong free loam, with clay subsoil, and the stronger the land the better crop. Poorer soil may be made productive by manuring with from twelve to twenty loads per acre, although on good land , by changing every year I think there is no necessity ; for it besides manuring (in the country), for root crops will cause so much expense for labor in weeding that the cost of same, will hardly pay for the crop. Method of Working. — Plough and cross-plough as for potatoes, and then plough during second week of" October in the following manner, 6in or 7in deep by 9in., and then sow in' every third fnrrow. A bag strapped on may' . Jiold the seed, and then, by taking a few seeds at a time between the finger and i the thumb, drop them 9in or lOin apart, and with a little practice, a lad can sow' the seed as fast as two. . horses can plough the land. Brush ; harrow and roll on the same day as • it ; ' i is last ploughed. I have ridged. -the. _i land, then dibbled and. drilled the seed j in ; but I consider the latter a bad plan* ' for thereby the moisture is allowed to i get out ofthe soil, which is so requisite' to the Bnccess of these crops at theearly stages. Flat sowing is the best. Tlje - seed recommended for all purposes is the orange globe, although the fed kinds" are also productive, but do not keep so : well, and as the principal use of this crop is for late feeding, the mangold thatkeeps longest is the best. -From 21bs to 2i.lbs of seed ..per acre wijl be sufficient. I like the way of sowing recommended, because' each mangold' is eet in its proper place, which they would not bejf planted. right along the drill,- . and only require thinning at each set. I find that one or two small mangolds growing where one large one ought to grow will .be, quite as weigLty ; and -the feeding qualities ofthe smaller roots are much greater than -large ones.- Some may differ,' but itis a welf-known fact that growing beet for sugar, the very. Jarge' beet- roots are useles?, and (her smaller; contain abundance of sacharine matter and less wood fibre and. water , than the former. The growth of sugarbeet in this country I; believe would be very profitable, from the fact of the suitability* of the climute and soil,' but' owing to the large capital which seems* to be required to start a sugar factory; successfully, it will - probably be some time before such a manufacture as that .of sugar is established. I however feel' certain tbat it is oSe'of our future industries, which will also enable us to vaEy. our crops, and to make farming more profitable. Harvesting.-^The preferable way is to «erti:the mangolds, from the ground as they are wanted, taking care to -have them all away, by. early, in September, and thebest crop to .succeed mangoldis barley. Two acies of every one him-* dred-acrO* farm is? I-"- eohsider/sufficien t to grow mangolds; . the . quantity thus grown being sufficient to keep the stock in good order. : > Market Value ---I do not"QOTßi]der~this~ root has any- direct market vahie, its valife consists- : inA the/** benefit with which it is consumed on the farm; and accruing in.djreptly * ; The best time for planting mangolds is the peebnd^week in OctobieF^bd - hot ' -later than the first of. Noyemjjer; ond tbe after-treatment consists in'.lwellrhoeing and hatid'haehjg, to.hayav the; area xlearr •of weeds. i ■