AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1230, 12 September 1911, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

MANGOLDS IN TARANAKI. . In" his notes on recent experiments with mangolds in Fltham, Mr. Baylis, i icld Instructor to the Agricultural Department, says that in the district in question Sutton's Sugar Mangolds is mentioned by experimcutors aB doing well and good crops liavo been obtained. It would appear somewhat more difficult to strike tliau do some of the other varieties, and the Kiverlea Partners' Union ic not alone in its experiences in this direction. It is a crop, however well worthy of cultivation, and once established appears to bo of robust and hardly nature. Mr. Baylis suggests that those wh) are keen on it specialise on saving their seed from the best grown and most vigorous plants, and see if .acclimatised seed might not lead to better results aud less difficulty in obtaining a strike. Another useful'variety is Garton's Gatepost, which is of medium size aud practically sits upon the snrface of the soil. Farmers who adopt tho practice of runniug son).? implements over tho paddock so as to knock the mangolds out of tho ground in order that the.v may mature somewhat before being fed to stock on the ground will find this variety, or anv variety similar in form to it, invaluable. Few, if any, are broken off and they are easily knocked over. The prizewinner Yellow Globe still maintains a high position among mangolds, although it is worthy of note thai, at Wtham the Sugar Mangold has evidently gone one better, and tho Riverlea Farmers' Union note that had the strike of Sugar Mangold been as good as in other varieties the Sugar Mangold with them would havo yielded the heaviest crop of the varieties rested. Somo more mangold variety trials are needed in different parts of Taranaki to confirm results obtained this season. 'The Riverlea branch of tho Farmers' Union experimented with Sutton's Crimson Tankard Mangold sown 1 in 6in. loam upon yellow clay subsoil. The land was ploughed at the beginning of December, disced twice, tine harrowed and rolled, sown December 0, at the rate of (lib. in 21in. drills, thinned and hoed January 9 and IG, February 21 and 28, manured with super lJcwt., boneflour, lewt., kainit, 2cwt., snip, ammonia Jcwt., gypsum 281b., costing 20s. per acre; yield, 495 tons. Tho crop did not do from the first! as well as the other varieties, although it made the best strike; avrrage weight of root, 31b. lloz. In another experiment by tho branch the cultivation was similar, but various varieties were tried, the results being: Sutton's Prize-winner Yellow Globe, 80 tons, made the best strike to Crimson Tankard variety, had easily less top than any of the other varieties; average weight . of roots, 7lb. Sutton's Sugar Mangold,/ 67 tons, not so good a strike as the previous two varieties, or it would have been the heaviest crop; it grew fast from the start; average weight of roots, about 101b.; Garton's Gatopjst, G2J tons; made a very bad strike, otherwise it did well all tho time. Mr. Sergei sowed Sutton's Prize-winner Yellow Globe and Sutton's Sugar Mangold. Tho land was ploughed early in October and well cultivated, tho seed being sown on October 19 in 23in. drills, being subsequently hand-hoed n little. Tho manure was super 2cwt., gypsum 801b., ground limestone 281b., boneifour lewt., pot. snip. 141b., cost 265. Tho Yellow Globe yielded nt the rate of 00 tons Scwt. per acre, and the Sugar Mangold is described as "a heavier crop than.tho foregoing, and appeared to be the most vigorous." Mr. Sergei states that according to his weigh, ing tho yield was at the rate *\f nearly 100 tons per acre, but. Mr. Baylis, believing some mistake had been made, would not accept the figures, considering them too! high. This accounts for tho exuet yield not being specified. ' Mr. W. A. Were, Toko, sowed Sutton's •Prize-winner Yellow Giobe on light loam upon porous clay, following an oat ccup. Tho land was ploughed early in September, disced well and harrowed; ploughed again in October, sown on November 25, 41b. per acre, in '28in. drills, thinned and cultivated with hoc three times. The manure comprised Toko.-shell lime applied in May at tbe rate of 12cwt. per acre, and in November super llcwt., bonedour ljcivt.. sulp. ammonia jcwt., salt }cwt., cost 21s. Od. The yield was at the rate of |0 tons ,Icwt. The crop was of exceptionally. good quality, very even, no waste.