Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-03
r III E F A r M E r .
Culture Of the Mangold wurtzeI.
, By HENRY y. FRENCH.

Value of the JEangold-Fed to Cons IN the CGty
of London-Cuiture in Lincolnshire, Eng.
idnd-Cutture IN Ireland-Lstter from Mr.
Boyle, Farmer at the Albert Model Farm,
In no single point did my opinions meet with
amore decided change, in my wanderings last
summer in Europe, than with respect to the value
of the mangold wurtzel. Ny belief now is, that
we can cultivate no other root for stock so profit.
ably as this, and hope the readers of the Ameri-
can will give it fair tril the coming season.
The results Of careful inquiry in many places in
England and Ireland and of observations in Bel
GUM and France, where the climate is hot and dry
in summer, may be given in few lines. The
mangold is more easily cultivated and yields
greater weight than any other. 1t is in general Of
about the value, bushel for bushel with Swede
turnps, for all horned cattle. 1t is valuable for
sheep, for horses, and for swine. Many English
farmers consider the mangold equal in value to
carrots bushel for bushel, for cows. Swine, they
say, will thrive well on them raw in the spring and
summer, and there is nothing so profitable TO raise
for mich cows. All agree that they should not
be fed out until after Christmas. Many say they
are actually poisonous to cattle in the fall. They
doubtless undergo ripening process, like win
ter apples, after they are taken from the ground,
or some fermentation, which adapts them 10 the
wants of animals.--Twenty-fve or thirty tons of
2240 lbs is a common crop TO the acre in England
! think three or four tons Of them can be raised
with the same labor as one ton Of carrots. There
is nothing that will stand drought like the man.
gold. They have been known frequently to strike
a. tIo hotta ,nfa fnt,rf foot l,.,,
good chance TO find all the water that is going.
The beet, Of which the mangold is a huge variety,
thriyes well in France as Is well known, and s e1
tensively cultivated for sugar. observed through
both France and Belgium that the beet endured
drought better than Indian corn. In our hot, dry
summers, it must be our surest root crop. had
always supposed it easily produced, but not TO be
of much value. Ny attention was first called to it
in London, strange place to study the culture of
root crops. a .IGsHf .Eas E.EiF .a
| In the midst Of the fashion at the West End in
London, a sensitive and discriminating nose NAV
detect the rural flavor Of the COW house. soon
found a stable near my boarding-house Of three
hundred and fifty COWS. Visiting them often,
took careful notes OF the mode OF keeping, the
breed of animals, which viii advert to when
there Is room In the paper. All I wish TO say now
is, that never saw better collection of cows
and that then, in the month Of June, each COW re.
ceved three pecks daily Of mangolds Ny infer
ence is that if il is profitable 10 feed this root TO
cows in the city Of London, the summer Il must
be profitable for farmers in the country to use IT,
Everywhere I heard the same opinion and made
IL subject Of conversation often, that might not
mistake the opinion Of few for public sentiment
| In July, passed a week with Ralph Lowe, ESQ.,,
Of Brauncewell Manor, in Lincolnshire, and found
that he and all the other good farmers Of one Of
the best farmed districts in England thought very
highly Of the mangold. SO after dinner one day,
took my pen and notebook, and asked him TO give
me careful directions how 10 cultivate the crop in
his country Mr.. Lowe Is ss reliable No any man in
England and his mode is correct for bis district,
and little Yankee shrewdness may adapt Il TO
America. / give the directions almost verbatim,
as recorded them that pleasant summer evening,
in "Merrie England" rtn
gTakc dry land, well drsined, not clsy,-that
| win work fine, say after wheat Manure with
twelve tons of good manure to the acre, at least,
and the more the better. Plow IL in six inches,
and leave IL ill spring; they when dry enough,
harrow deep, roll and work fine with plow anil
harrow. Sow broadcast at least $50 lbs. Of salt,
twice the quantity is better. Throw into ridges
twenty.seven inches apart with common plov.
Soak the seed eighteen hours in water, and lay on
a dry cloth twenty four hours. Drill with hand
drill three to six pounds Of seed to the acre. Ek
anime and zee If the seed is sound or has beer
eaten by TN insect Drill 100 lbs. OF superphos
phate with ashes the more the better with the seec
ON the ridge, the ridge having been first rolec