Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-05-12
The Culture and Use Of Man
gels
HENRY STEWART.

to be one of the impossibilities
our agriculture. The climate wa
considered to be unsuitable for
crop which held in its cellular It's
sue 80 or more per cent. of water
and such was the force of this mis-
taken impression that any one VIII
attempted to grow a crop Of root
was considered as a very foolisl
man. 1t was said, and is even nov
said, and insisted upon by person
who would not like to be included
among the odd fogies' that corr
held superior position as a feeding
crop to any roots whatever tina
while we could raise corn Of som,
kind on any sort Of land, the troub
lie and cost Of a crop of roots were
uselessly undertaken and only fail
ure could result from the attempt
Besides, said they What vii
you do with your roots when yor
have them ? If you should be sc
foolish as to raise three or foul
acres OF them and have as many
thousand bushels, where will you
put them and what will you feed
them to 2 This was considered a
sort of poser which squelched al
gument and was followed always by
the clincher: No, sir you can't
grow roots here; and if you could,
you don't want them you have
corn and what do you want be-
sides 2 But then came the knowl-
edge that corn was a very incom-
plete food OF itself, and although it
would fatten an animal very well,
it was not fitted to sustain the sys-
tenn of a growing Or a milking ami
NAL, and something was needed to
feed with it to perfect the nutritive
ratio of the food, and the roots were
the sort of addition that
was required. Corn, corn fodder
and roots together made up precise
ly the nutritive elements in the
exact portion required. And then
our scientific farmers saw the point
at once, and set themselves to grow
roots-and succeeded. Now, Amer
lean farmers can grow roots as well
as any English farmer ever could,
with their advantageous climate !;
as good in quality; in fact, better,
because more solid and less succu-
lent; as large IN size and as heavy
in the yield. We can grow man
gels anywhere from "a to 40
pounds weight, if we wish and at
a cost that renders them the cheap
est food we have. Forty tons per
acre, equal to 1900 bushels, are
grown by good farmers who under
stand the needed culture, and any
farmer may grow as many, who
will follow the right method. Is
there any crop that will pay better?
Mangels contain over one per cent.
Of flesh forming material which is
worth Al cents per pound, and 10
per cent, OF carbohydrates worth
one cent per pound. This is for
the fresh roots having So per cent
Of water in them. At 144 cents
per 100 pounds, equal to ST cents
per bushel, a crop Of 40 tons gives
4 return of S113.75 per acre. To
realize as much from corn one must
grow nearly 200 bushels per acre.
It requires but little figuring to dis
cover which is the more profitable
crop,
We need to grow roots. They
Exert a beneficial influence upon
he soil; not directly, but growing
,ut of the necessities of their cul.
ure. The land must be we'll work
ID, must be well MANFRED and must
De kept free from weeds. A truly
honest farmer, l mean one who is
lonesf to himself, and his profession
md to his farm, should grow roots
or this very reason, because the
work disciplines him, in fact, will
make good and successful farmer
f him.
Let US consider what he must do.
There must be a stock of good well
ottcd manure prepared. This is
and the ground should |
lave been we'll plowed before win
err sets in, But the manure must be |
lad, if roots are desired. To grow |
me acre, then, there seould be 20 |
Dads of manure made, turned over
hree or four times, kept fermenting
trough the winter and prepared
or use early next May. This is
disciplinary and useful work ; it en-
iches the farm and the farmer, and
he labor will give him higher ideas
han are usually held regarding this
york of making manure. Instead
f being considered as filthy, disa.
reeable work, the manure heap
I'LL be to him a laboratory expert
nent carefully prepared; and its
esults watched with great interest.
will bring in the intellect to the
id of the hands and arms, and will
o what is done for a purpose. This
the winters work, Next comes
he seed: six pounds for an acre
J the quantity required.
The next consideration is the va
ETY.. After growing the past
ear, twelve different varieties oil
,a,,..ol. onJ hoats T world select