Mañgolds

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 4, 15 October 1941, Page 291

Mangolds

Since the outbreak of war, mangolds have been increasingly used in England as the basic maintenance fodder for cattle. In New Zealand, too,

this crop has a distinct value in maintaining stock in condition, and this article describes the operations necessary for successful cultivation.

Here Is A Crop To Keep Your Stock in Condition

THE mangold, because of its high yield of feeding value per acre—probably higher in this respect than any other crop— its excellent keeping. qualities, claims the attention of all producers, whether of dairy products, mutton, beef or wool. The mangold fails as a fodder in that it contains very little protein. Therefore, when fed to cows it will maintain condition, but is not productive, of milk, which is secured from the grass consumed. If, however, cows on a ration of hay, mangolds, and a limited supply of grass are deprived of the roots, then the production of milk will fall, because the grass consumed is required for maintenance purposes. When fed to pigs, mangolds should be supplemented with meat-meal fed at about i lb. per pig per day to make up for the protein deficiency. The mangold seedling is slow in establishing, being at the mercy ,of the faster-growing weeds. Consequently, the crop requires much attention during the early half of its growing period. The mangold must be pulled a month or so before being fed to stock. During this period it is said to “ripen,” . and during this .. process the poisonous substances present in the fresh mangold are made innocuous. Thus, the growing of mangolds entails a large amount of hand work, making it a crop suited to the. smaller and more intensive farms. Sowing the Seed . The seed bed for mangolds must be very fine and firm, because the real mangold seed is very small. The so-' called mangold seed which is sown is really the fruit of the plant, and normally contains three seeds. The seed is sown in October in rows 28 in. apart either on the flat or on ridges at the rate of 5 lb. or 6 lb. per acre. As

By

J. E. BELL,

Land Utilisation Officer, Wellington

soon as the young mangold plants can be seen the crop is intercultivated and then hand-hoed to destroy weeds and space the plants about 10 to 12 inches apart. Sow with the seed either 4 cwt. superphosphate or 2 cwt. superphosphate and 2 cwt. blood and bone-

dust. In dry climates where injury to germination is liable to occur, mix the superphosphate with an equal amount of . lime two weeks before application or use basic super. Where phosphate deficiency is very great,, apply an additional dressing of 4 cwt. super broadcast over the seed bed before or after drilling the seed. This will be. necessary in districts where the topdressing of phosphates on pastures is a common practice. If potash deficiency is suspected, then the 4 cwt. super broadcast can be replaced by a mixture of 2 cwt. super and 2 cwt. of 30 per cent, potash salts.

Several intercultivations and hand weedings may be necessary ' to keep the young plants free from weeds. After January, the crop is usually far enough advanced to look after itself. In northern districts where weed growth is very fast, the transplanting method should be adopted. The seed is sown in September in rows 12 to 14 in. apart in specially prepared beds at the rate of 1 oz. per chain, using 4 lb. for every acre to be planted. ’ The seed bed is prepared and fertilised in the same way as for growing mangolds in the normal way. T ransplanting From December until January, and sometimes as late as February, the mangold plants will be ready, for transplanting, although the farmer does not attempt this work if the ground is dry. Mangolds will not develop well if they are transplanted at too young a stage, and best results are obtained if transplanting takes place when the plant roots have begun to swell and are about the size of a man’s thumb. The mangolds are planted about 10 to 12 inches apart after the plough, a row being placed every second furrow. Planters soon ! become expert at the

work, and cover the ground at about one-third the speed of a planter of potatoes. " ' - , ' • - The mangold plants ' are placed on the furrow face, so that the succeeding furrow just covers the rooting system. Later, some growers will tramp the soil firmly around the roots. Before planting, a good dressing of artificial fertiliser is applied to the face of the furrow, the quantities applied varying from 5 cwt. to 1 ton. A suitable mixture for some districts would be 4 cwt. • superphosphate, 4 cwt. blood and bone, and 4 cwt. 30 per cent, potash salts per acre. . There is no set rate and kind of fertiliser for any crop, and again, as for the seed bed, the amount applied will vary according to the soil fertility i and the amount of rainfall—the higher the fertility and the ; less the rainfall the less fertiliser being required. Mangolds respond markedly to heavy dressings of animal manure or wellrotted vegetable material. After the mangolds are transplanted no further attention is necessary. From that stage onwards the mangolds can cope with the weeds themselves, for they have a great start on them. The

soil is fine, and intercultivation, by interfering . with , the rooting system and knocking about the leaves, would do more harm than good. This system of growing mangolds may appear to ; incur a large amount of work, but it certainly involves less work than the normal method in ground infested with weed seed. Variety and Yields / - I A popular variety is the Yellow Globe, because of its high yield and solidity. The kind or variety used does not' matter a great deal, however;, as the higher yielding ones are usually poorer in dry matter content, so that almost any variety will produce about equal amounts of dry matter per acre/ The best crops are obtained on well-drained light soils; heavy, poorly drained soils, are unsuited to mangold culture. Being very hardy, the mangold plant does - not suffer much from disease, and resists drought conditions better than other root crops. In low rainfall districts its yield is generally about 20 tons , per acre. In wet districts the normal yield is about 40

tons, but . in some places where soil and rainfall are very suitable, yields average about 50 tons per acre. There are yields on record of more than 100 tons per acre, but these are most unusual. The mangold is so commonly grown in England # that the term “roots” usually signifies this crop, and hay and “roots” have always been the basic

maintenance fodder for cattle in England. During the last few years before the war cheap imported food had replaced the “roots” to a large extent, but “roots” have now reassumed their past important position. In New Zealand, also, mangolds have their part to play, and it is to be hoped that all farmers who can make use of them will do so. '

Shearing Classes at Roxburgh

SHEARING classes will again' be inaugurated at Roxburgh from October 22 to November 7. Following the outstanding success of the classes which were inaugurated last year by the Otago Primary Production Council, assisted by a strong local committee, it has been decided that classes be held again upon the dates mentioned. Last year, twenty learners received a thorough training in blade and machine shearing, and although some of them had never handled a sheep before, practically all were able to shear 80 to 100 sheep a day towards the end of the course. Last year’s learners came from all

parts of Otago, North Otago, and Southland, the ages ranging from 16 to 30. Thirteen of the twenty immediately received pens in shearing sheds in different parts of Otago and Southland, and ended up the season as experienced shearers. The remainder, although not exclusively engaged shearing, did a limited amount of shearing in their own districts. On September 1, Messrs. J. W. Woodcock and A. C. Cameron, representing the Otago Primary Production Council, addressed a representative meeting of farmers at Roxburgh, including the majority of those who had acted upon the committee and supplied sheep last

year. After hearing the deputation, it was unanimously agreed that shearing classes be again inaugurated in the district, and the following committee was set up to finalise arrangements: — Chairman, Mr. G. Huyshe-Eliot (Roxburgh); honorary secretary, Mr. R. T. Kinaston (Roxburgh); committee, Messrs. John George, L. McKnight (Roxburgh), Andrew Gibson, T. Graham (Millers Flat), J. A. Pannett, M. McCrae, H. Armitage, W. Johnstone (Teviot), G. C. Calder (Department of Agriculture, Alexandra). The dates decided upon were:—Assemble Monday, October 27; instruction Tuesday, 28th to Friday, 7th November inclusive (a week later than last year’s dates). The Council of Primary Production has been assured of the wholehearted co-operation of the following bodies: N.Z. Farmers’ Union, Otago Provincial Council, N.Z. Sheepowners’ Federation, Otago and Southland Branch; The Dunedin Stock Agents’ and Woolbrokers' Association; N.Z. Workers’ Union; Department of Agriculture and the State Placement Service. - The following local committee, set up by the Primary Production .Council, will co-operate with the Roxburgh Committee: —Messrs. A. C. Leary, J. W. Woodcock, A. Wathey, and A. C. Cameron.