The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-09-04
HOUSE AND FARM.
N angold sVur1zels' Tor Feea,ns.

Where stock is to be fed, especially
where dairy cows are, kept, these roots
ara most useful addition the usual win.
',rrations, their succulence and health
preserving qualities commanding them
as well as the saving which their regular
use permits of more expensive feed.
Mr.. Gregory, who has recently published
a pamphlet on the cultivation OF these
and other roots, has the following to say
in their favor:
Besides arguments which are Of
weight for cultivation of all kinds OF
roots, there are special ones for the raising
of mangolds. The vast bulksof' yield ex-
ceeds that of any annual crop, as high as
eighty tons OF roots having been raised to
the acre on the sewerage farms of Eng
land and when to this is, added the
weight of leaves that such a crop. would
carry, it will be safe to say that a, hund-
red tones have been given to- the acre.
Taken as whole, the mangold has less
enemies and is less apt to fail than any
other root. Compared with the turnip
family, it has several marked advant.
ages, being more reliable in dry seasons
and less liable to disease; and in, flesh
forming, heat giving, aud tat.producing
elements it surpasses it..
While the turnip family, cannot be
raised repeatedly on the same land, in
deed on most soil can be raised only at
intervals of three or fouryears, mangolds
can be raised many years in succession,
as Mr.. Mech, the distinguished English
agriculturist, has proved by raising sixty
tons per annum on the same tract of land
of six acres area, tor six successive wears.
They will keep longer in good condition
than any other root, under favorable cir
Gums tances even as late as, July. Expert
ments in feeding steers made with care,
proved that while ton of, mangolds in
creased their weight sixty.five pounds, a
ton OF Swedes increased their weight but
iOrty.eight pounds, equal quantities of
hay having been fed in each experiment.
Other experiments have established
about the same proportionate. value be-
tween these two roots, though the general
result was not as favorable. Mangolds,
like fruit, undergo a ripening change af-
ter they are gathared, and until this is
effected they are not in the best condition
for feeding. The ripening: process for
the most part consists. in change of
starch into sugar, and makes the man
colds both more healthful and more
nutritious food. Before this change is
effected they are apt to scour stock if fed
to any degree literally. . 49,
The time when this chemical change
takes place will depend on the degree of
the ripeness of the crop, when stored and
this, as has been clearly shown, is affected
by both the soil on which they grew and
the manure with which they were fed,
other conditions equal, those grown on
upland, ripen earlier than those on low
land, while rank manures tend to prolong
the period of growth and crops so grown,
come into condition for feeding later in
the season. Experiments carefully made
have proved that when fed to fattening
animals they should. follow and not pre-
cede turnips. It is, a good rule in feed
ing this, as with other roots or tubers, to
begin with small quantity and gradu-
ally increase the amount to the limit which
the appetite of the cow, her general
health and the tale Of the milk pail indi-
Gates. i.ss%
- The mangold succeeds best on 2 good
loan soil. From four to six pounds Of
seeds are required to the acre, and the
plants should stand from ten to TIVE I've
inches apart in rows about two feet wide.