The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-04-10 00:00:00

Corroponbrnct.

PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE.

LrrrEo No. VIII.

ON THE BEST METHOD OF SOWING MANGOLD
WURZEL (THE LAND HAVING BEEN PIMPARIID);
THE MEANTITY OF SEED FEE ACHE; AND WHY •
GREAT WIDTH BETWEEN THE BOWS IS NOT PROFIT-
ABLE.

To the Editor of the Dorset County Express and
Agricultural Gazette.

Dorchester, April 9th, IS6O.

SlR,—The cheapest mode of doing anything, pro-
vided it be equally effective, • ill always prove the
best, therefore the beat method of sowing mangold
wurzel must be liy drilling, for no dibbling or baud-
sowing can compete with good machinery, nor can
it be done so quickly ; and as the season for sowing
is the beginning of May, showers may be expected,
and unless the sowing is quickly performed great
delay may be the consequence; and as I have reorn-
mended a large number of acres of this root it wili
be seen that speedy *owing is absolutely necessary.
The common custom of soaking the seed in water
previous to sowing is a bad one, for although in some
seasons a quicker growth may lie obtained, so as to
get a start of the weeds, this will not compensate for
the loss in others, which may result in a shortness of
plant owing to the 'teed being artiticially sprouted
at a time alien the land is not in a proper state to
continue the growth. Perhaps it will be well to ,ay
a word tom about the different varieties, for if pro-
fitible agriculture is to he the order of the lash
there can be no doubt that the proper seed to sew
will be of the long red kind ; for this reason, it will
produce a greater quantity per acre, and of good
quality. Ido not mean to say that the yellow globe
is not richer, but the fattening properties of this
root is not of such importance as many MO.
imagine, for now -a-days there are so many kinas of
cake and other artificial foods that will supply as
place of quality in the roots, that it is well to pro-
duce as umeli as possible in order to keep a larkl6
quantity of stock.
Now, a ith regard to the quantity, I will say that
four pounds of good seed per acre will be sufficient
for any sod or climate; for if more be sown-5'
often the case—a difficulty will be found in singhlii
them out, and their being too thick will prevent the
proper growth during tne early stage, that is, be"
they are fit for the hoe. I will here mention that
order to bring on the young plant properly it Li'
he necessary to drill a little manure with the
this need not consist of anything better than good
farmyard compost and ashes.
desk
With reganl to the proper width of roWs, i—
ll can slow that the old plan of 36 to 4s inches is tel
wile ; ler although it may do well in A very
' year with a very full plant, it will not he refit-04
on an average; for supposing that a drill, or 01
part of a drill, be missed in sowing, which will Ars
,he the case re or leas throughout the field.
will be the consequence? Why, it will he that
blank will remain the season, which could not lios
been the rase if the drills were nearer each Ali
I will, therefore, add that the proper width is
inches, and not 4S ; and any person with a clt
perception will see that it is wide enough to ail'u4
of cleaning, and must result in • greater weight e'r
llet%

I remain,
Sin,