FARMING NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10712, 16 October 1912, Page 3

FARMING NOTES

(By "Man on the Laud.") VALUE OF MANGOLDS. The mangold i<> possessed of many excellent qualities, and its move t-x----"iiciwavo usets ro,iwe patronage. I;, is i yitvii, mtd justly so, called t'.ie root of scarcity. It can be grown on a large range of soils, but deep rich loams or calcareous clays are most suitable to | its culture. Successful crops call bo I grown on even stiff heavy soils, alj though, with the last-mentioned there lis some difficulty in working-up a J tilth sufficiently fine to secure a good j germination. The mangold is impatient of thin, shallow soils, of exhausted land, and of raw, sour land. On this class of land turnips will prove more- profitable. In this climate soils favourable for wheat will suit I mangolds, if th© land is generously j farmed; but when conditions .are I more suitable for oats turnips will j thrive better. 'Hie mangold loves | warmth, and will thrive in situations [ where conditions are too hot and dry [for turnips; therefore, a sunny spot | should if possible be chosen;, the i rootis -will grow a better crop and better quality, they withstand drought i after b?ing fairly started better than i any other root crop, and it is occasI ionaJly of great value, when turnips have failed or have only been partly successful. They keep better than ' any other roots,-.swedes not excepted, j and are available in the spring for j dairy cows coming to profit, also for j lambing' 1 ewes when grass or other, forage is scarce. By keeping cows ■going well, through September and early October the milk yield will be greater, throughout the summer; and by the help of a few mangolds over the bare time, ewes that have ibeen ■lambed will rear a better .percentage of strong lambs, and these will be sent on their wav unchecked. Again. ' the average yield per acre is much ' heavier than that of turnips weight for weight, and the feeding value i? higher.—"N.Z. Herald." ;. ,