VALUE OF MANGELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18206, 27 September 1922, Page 6

VALUE OF MANGELS.

U$E FOR DAIRY COWS. $ • ' — PKOVISION FOE THE SPRING. The keeping quality of mangels adds very considerably to their value as they provide a 'succulent food in spring and early summer when 6uch foods are scarce. For this reason dairy farmers should endeavour to grow sufficient mangels, not merely for winter use, as is often the case;, but for spring, and if necessary early summer feeding. Too often daisy, farmers grow only sufficient of these valtiable roots to feed in conjunction with hay or straw during tha winter months When spring comes and grass in the pastures begins to show a growth cows are' expected to -'get sufficient food therefrom to keep up a full milk flow. But in early spring, especially, though tho pastures may be green, there is not sufficient, nourishment in the' grass to fully sustain cows of heavy milking propensities. The pastures at this stage seefh to lack that nourishment which heavy milking animals need. The consequence is that though they may give a fair amount of milk they almost invariably fall off in condition. When this happens the lac- ! tation period must of necessity be com- j paratively short, and the animals fail to give their maximum yield of milk and butter-fat, taking the season through.

Food and Milk Production.. Those farmers who provide a liberal quantity of roots or other succulent food for their dairy cows during the early months of spring, and have a good change of roots reserved in they lire- needed later on, reap the benefit in the end. Firstly, because tho cows are kept in better condition. When cows are kept in strong healthy condition they yield more milk than if they had to depend entirely upon what they can gather off a scantilycovered pastdre. Secondly, while the ani mals are feeding roots or other food grown for the purpose of supplementing the pasture, they do not eat the pastures down, so bare, so that the grass gets a better start; and thirdly, when dry weather sets in, those pastures that have been grazed bare in spring will be more affected by drought than those that have been allowed to get a good start. In this way the farmer who provides liberally for his cows in early spring will reap the benefit in two ways, viz., by keeping his cows in better condition, and by allowing the grass in the pastures to completely cover the ground before dry weather sets in, and thereby maintaining better feed in the pastures throughout the season. Variety of Mangels to Grow. In choosing the variety of mangels to sow one should take into consideration— firstly, what his class of land is beat; adapted to grow, and secondly the timi of year the roots are intended to be fed. Mangels can be grown on most soils, but deep rich loams are considered to yield the largest crops, and for the long varieties a deep soil is essential. Yellow Globe, Golden Tankard, and intermediates can be grown on shallower soils, but heavy crops are produced with those varieties even on clay soils. Sunshine is an important factor in the growth and ripening of mangels, therefore a warm, sunny spot should, if possible, be chosen. A practice adopted by many farmers, that is where the soil is suitable, is to grow a flat of Long Reds for early feeding; Golden Globe or Yellow Giobo for second feeding; and Golden Tankard for late feeding, as the latter keeps better and is very rich in dry matter, and is also rich in the percentage of sugar. With the latter variety, however, there is often difficulty in getting an even plant of it, and it is less productive ..ban some of the other varieties. The prize winners, Golden .Globs} and Yellow Globe, are heaviest croppers under most conditions. They germinate freely, keep well, palatable and nutritious, and being easily lifted thoy arc all round' useful varieties. The Season for Mangels.

Owing to the varied conditions under which mangels are grown there is really no definite season for sowing, (or what will suit one locality will be totally out of season for another. The farmer must be guided to a very great extent as with other crops by certain conditions, viz., the climate, situation, naiturc of the soil, and labour. This crop in particular should be sown as near as possiblo to fit in with other work of the farm. For instance, it is follv sowing mangels that need a deal of labour spent on them unless suitable labour will b"e procurable at the right time, that is to say, when tho crop necils weeding and singling. a.s it is essential that this work should be done promptly as soon as ever the plants are far enough advanced. If wMds are allowed to get the upper hand the labour bill will be very much greater. This in why the mangel is'*oiten condemned by many farmers, but in reality in a great; many cases it is the fault of mismanagement on the part of the farmer for not arranging the sowing to v suifc the other rotation of work. A little careful observation of previous seasons' r.-'ops will put the farmer in a position to judge fairly accurately the best time to sow his root crops. P'racticallv fpeaking, however, : n the case of mangel, seeding should be carried out as soon as possible in any district, that is after the risk "of frosts has passed. When drilling mangels, as mentioned in a previous article, soma quickly-germinating seed should be sowi with the mangel f-ced. Many prefer to sow a, little swede seed in preference to j white • mustard, or some other quickly-! growing crop. The swedes being quick; to germinate show up the drills quickly, j thus enabling tfie horee hoeing to com mencc at an earlier date. Swedes ' two purposes, viz., they indicate the rows, and if there should be gaps in ; the mangels row, when tingling the swe'des,, may be left to fill up the gaps j*nd allowed to grow until the mangeis are pulled and pitted. The swedes arc pitted /with the mangels. This gives a, vanetv of feed which together forms ex j cellent food for wintering stock. W.S. j