,,on ,,the ,,improved ,,beet ,,root1 ,,or ,,mangel ,,wurzel4 ,,on ,,the ,,improved ,,beet ,,root1 ,,as ,,winter ,,food ,,for ,,cattle4 ,,by ,,pinder ,,simpson4 ,,the ,,fourth ,,edition4 ,illustration3 ,fleuron ,,london3 ,printed by ,j4 ,swan1 ,fleet ,street1 ,,and ,,sold ,,by ,,taylor ,,and ,,hessey1 ,,no4 #ic1 ,,fleet ,,street4 #ahae4 ,,to ,,john ,,heaton1 ,,esq4 ,,of ,,bedfords1 ,,in ,,the ,,county ,,of ,,essex4 ,,as ,a ,,testimony ,,of ,,gratitude ,,to ,,him1 ,,for ,,the ,,long ,,and ,,faithful ,,friendship ,,with ,,which ,,the ,,author ,,has ,,been ,,honoured1 ,,this ,,tract ,,is ,,inscribed1 ,,by ,,his ,,affectionate ,,and ,,obedient ,,servant1 ,,pinder ,,simpson4 ,,advertisement4 ,the following observations1 experiments1 and calculations have been made upon the crops of ,improved ,beet ,root1 grown upon a farm at ,bedfords1 in the county of ,essex1 containing #fjj acres1 belonging to ,john ,heaton1 ,esq4 and in his own occupation4 ,the best mode of cultivating this valuable root1 with the greatest prospect of success1 is a subject well worth the attention of farmers in general1 and to those in particular who have strong soils to cultivate1 and feel the want of green food for their cattle and sheep in the winter and spring months of the year4 ,since the first edition of this little work was published1 the ,author has obtained many new lights upon the subject1 which he has either embodied in the present edition1 or published in an ,appendix4 ,the contents show sufficiently to whom his principal obligation is due1 and he is restrained only by motives of delicacy from saying more4 ,the circulation of the work was intended to have been chiefly confined to a few of the inland counties1 but the encouragement the ,author has received1 and which he respectfully acknowledges1 has induced him to publish a fourth edition1 for more general circulation4 ,cheese ,cross1 ,romford4 ,jan4 #a1 #ahae4 ,,the ,,following ,,noblemen1 ,,gentlemen1 ,,and ,,farmers1 ,,have ,,encouraged ,,this ,,publication4 ,the ,most ,hon4 the ,marquis of ,bath1 ,longleat1 ,wilts4 ,the ,right ,hon4 ,lord ,william ,bentinck1 ,north ,lynn1 ,norfolk4 ,the ,right ,hon4 ,lord ,bradford1 ,weston ,hall1 ,staffordshire4 ,george ,bainbridge1 ,esq4 ,gobions1 ,essex4 ,henry ,bowman1 ,esq4 ,knockin ,hall1 ,shropshire4 ,mr4 ,john ,bailey1 ,chillingham1 ,northumberland4 ,mr4 ,william ,blake1 ,rilston1 ,yorkshire4 ,the ,right ,hon4 ,lord ,g4 ,h4 ,cavendish1 ,holker ,hall1 ,lancashire4 ,the ,right ,hon4 ,r4 ,p4 ,carew1 ,m4,p4 ,antony1 ,cornwall4 ,charles ,cavendish1 ,esq4 ,savile ,row1 ,london4 ,john ,cotes1 ,esq4 ,m4,p4 ,woodcote1 ,shropshire4 ,the ,rev4 ,william ,carr1 ,bolton ,abbey1 ,yorkshire4 ,the ,rev4 ,wm4 ,crofts1 ,north ,grimston1 ,yorkshire4 ,john ,carr1 ,esq4 ,skipton1 ,yorkshire4 ,charles ,cole1 ,esq4 ,paston1 ,northamptonshire4 ,james ,campbell1 ,esq4 ,whitton ,dean1 ,middlesex4 ,charles ,campbell1 ,esq4 ,edmonton1 ,middlesex4 ,mr4 ,t4 ,clarke1 ,kirkby ,hardwick1 ,nottinghamshire4 ,mr4 ,john ,charlton1 ,bolton1 ,lancashire4 ,his ,grace the ,duke of ,devonshire1 ,chatsworth1 ,derbyshire4 ,john ,denison1 ,esq4 ,ossington1 ,nottinghamshire4 ,a4 ,p4 ,driver1 ,esq4 ,kent ,road1 ,surrey4 ,edward ,driver1 ,esq4 ditto4 ,john ,elsee1 ,esq4 ,chigwell ,row1 ,essex4 ,the ,right ,hon4 ,earl ,fitzwilliam1 ,wentworth1 ,yorkshire4 ,ralph ,fletcher1 ,esq4 ,hollins1 ,lancashire4 ,the ,right ,honourable ,lord ,grantham1 ,newby ,hall1 ,yorkshire4 ,e4 ,s4 ,godfrey1 ,esq4 ,newark1 ,nottinghamshire4 ,the ,right ,hon4 the ,earl of ,hardwicke1 ,wimpole1 ,cambridgeshire4 ,sir ,windsor ,hunloke1 ,bart4 ,wingerworth1 ,derbys4 ,john ,heaton1 ,esq4 ,bedfords1 ,essex4 ,charles ,heaton1 ,esq4 ,burlington ,street1 ,london4 ,william ,hewson1 ,esq4 ,havering ,grange1 ,essex4 ,c4 ,n4 ,hastie1 ,esq4 ,east ,grinstead1 ,sussex4 ,philip ,heacock1 ,esq4 ,buxton1 ,derbyshire4 ,samuel ,hicks1 ,esq4 ,wyddial1 ,hertfordshire4 ,mr4 ,richard ,hudson1 ,plaistowe1 ,essex4 ,charles ,jervis1 ,esq4 ,hinckley1 ,leicestershire4 ,william ,jacobs1 ,esq4 ,havering1 ,essex4 ,the ,rev4 ,j4 ,kendal1 ,barrowby1 ,lincolnshire4 ,thomas ,knowlton1 ,esq4 ,edensor1 ,derbyshire4 ,sir ,h4 ,t4 ,liddell1 ,bart4 ,ravensworth ,castle1 ,durham4 ,william ,j4 ,lockett1 ,esq4 ,derby4 ,the ,right ,honourable ,viscount ,milton1 ,milton1 ,northamptonshire4 ,sir ,thomas ,mostyn1 ,bart4 ,mostyn1 ,flintshire1 ,a4 ,l4 ,maynard1 ,esq4 ,chesterfield1 ,derbyshire4 ,john ,machell1 ,esq4 ,low ,plains1 ,cumberland4 ,william ,morris1 ,esq4 ,havering1 ,essex4 ,mr4 ,william ,masterman1 ,havering1 ,essex4 ,sir ,richard ,neave1 ,bart4 ,dagnam ,park1 ,essex4 ,dudley ,north1 ,esq4 ,m4,p4 ,glenham ,hall1 ,suffolk4 ,his ,grace the ,duke of ,portland1 ,welbeck1 ,nottinghamshire4 ,the ,hon4 ,c4 ,a4 ,pelham1 ,m4,p4 ,appuldurcombe1 ,isle of ,wight4 ,j4 ,d4 ,paul1 ,esq4 ,temple ,bar1 ,london4 ,thomas ,partington1 ,esq4 ,offham1 ,sussex4 ,mr4 ,peter ,potter1 ,kentish ,town1 ,middlesex4 ,mr4 ,james ,pope1 ,latimer1 ,buckinghamshire4 ,mr4 ,thomas ,padmore1 ,lincroft1 ,staffordshire4 ,mr4 ,thomas ,pinder1 ,eakring1 ,nottinghamshire4 ,thomas ,roberts1 ,jun4 ,esq4 ,hampstead1 ,middlesex4 ,edward ,russell1 ,esq4 ,holland ,house1 ,surrey4 ,john ,renshaw1 ,esq4 ,nottingham4 ,mr4 ,robert ,robinson1 ,havering1 ,essex4 ,mr4 ,john ,rowell1 ,holbeck1 ,lancashire4 ,the ,honourable ,john ,simpson1 ,m4,p4 ,babworth1 ,nottinghamshire4 ,s4 ,e4 ,sawbridge1 ,esq4 ,olantigh1 ,kent4 ,robert ,snow1 ,esq4 ,temple ,bar1 ,london4 ,john ,shaw1 ,esq4 ,wheston ,hall1 ,derbyshire4 ,william ,sandby1 ,esq4 ,rochlin1 ,herefordshire4 ,john ,stephens1 ,esq4 ,reading4 ,thomas ,sewell1 ,esq4 ,newport1 ,isle of ,wight4 ,william ,stone1 ,esq4 ,englefield1 ,berkshire4 ,benjamin ,severn1 ,esq4 ,hare ,hall1 ,essex4 ,mr4 ,john ,sutton1 ,sawtry1 ,huntingdonshire4 ,mr4 ,william ,speechly1 ,king's ,newton ,hall1 ,derbyshire4 ,mr4 ,robert ,swift1 ,wyddial1 ,hertfordshire4 ,the ,right ,hon4 ,lord ,john ,townshend1 ,balls ,park1 ,hertfordshire4 ,the ,rev4 ,robert ,thomson1 ,,ll4,d4 ,long ,stowe ,hall1 ,cambridgeshire4 ,h4 ,b4 ,thornhill1 ,esq4 ,langwith ,lodge1 ,notts4 ,c4 ,t4 ,tower1 ,esq4 ,weald ,hall1 ,essex4 ,george ,tuson1 ,esq4 ,ilchester1 ,somersetshire4 ,mr4 ,william ,trumper1 ,dorney1 ,buckinghamshire4 ,mr4 ,reynier ,tiler1 ,windsor1 ,berkshire4 ,mr4 ,robert ,tomlin1 ,stoke1 ,derbyshire4 ,mr4 ,john ,trumper1 ,harefield1 ,middlesex4 ,c4 ,c4 ,western1 ,esq4 ,m4,p4 ,felix ,hall1 ,essex4 ,the ,rev4 ,e4 ,williamson1 ,campton1 ,bedfordshire4 ,c4 ,h4 ,ware1 ,esq4 ,gray's ,inn1 ,middlesex4 ,john ,willock1 ,esq4 ,golden ,square1 ,london4 ,thomas ,willan1 ,esq4 ,marybone ,park1 ,middlesex4 ,mr4 ,charles ,waistell1 ,holborn1 ,middlesex4 ,mr4 ,william ,weller1 ,amersham1 ,buckinghamshire4 ,mr4 ,william ,ward1 ,durham4 ,mr4 ,thomas ,wolton1 ,pirgo ,park1 ,essex4 ,mr4 ,joseph ,watson1 ,shimpling1 ,norfolk4 ,mr4 ,william ,weedon1 ,wilsden ,green1 ,middlesex4 ,,on ,,the ,,improved ,,beet ,,root1 ,,as ,,winter ,,food ,,for ,,cattle4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,the garden at ,cheese ,cross produced a fine crop of the ,improved ,beet ,root4 ,the roots1 when about the size of a radish1 were thinned out with a turnip hoe1 leaving the plants nearly #ae inches apart each way4 ,i selected #fj square yards1 #f by #aj1 and found the produce to be #cfj roots1 equal to #bi1jdj roots upon an acre4 ,they weighed from #a pound to #ab pounds each1 and #aj of them1 taken up indiscriminately1 weighed #dj pounds4 ,supposing them1 therefore1 to average #d pounds each1 the weight upon an acre would be something more than #ej tons4 ,one hundred weight1 cut into small pieces for the cattle1 measured #b bushels4 ,the quantity per acre may therefore be estimated at #bjjj bushels1 #b bushels are given to each bullock daily3 #aif bushels1 the produce of only about a tenth part of an acre of garden ground1 planted in this way1 would keep a bullock #ad weeks4 ,in ,mason's field1 on the road from ,bedfords to ,havering1 another fine crop was obtained4 ,the roots1 when about the size of a radish1 were taken out of the seed bed1 and planted in rows1 #c feet asunder1 and the plants were about #ah inches apart in each row4 ,i selected #fj square yards1 #f by #aj1 and found the produce to be #abf roots1 equal to #aj1afd roots upon an acre4 ,these roots weighed1 on an average1 #e pounds each1 so that the weight upon an acre would be something more than #bb tons4 ,each bullock eats #a cwt4 per day4 ,the produce of #a acre of ground1 planted in this way1 would keep #d bullocks feeding for #aaj days4 ,in another part of the same field1 on the road from ,bedfords to ,havering1 the seed was dibbled in rows1 #b feet apart1 and the plants were left #ab inches apart in each row4 ,i selected #fj square yards1 #f by #aj1 and found the produce to be #bgj roots2 equal to #ba1ghj roots upon an acre4 ,these roots average a little more than #e pounds each4 ,the weight upon an acre would therefore be something more than #dh tons4 ,each bullock eats #a cwt4 per day4 ,the produce of #a acre of land1 planted in this way1 would keep #aj bullocks feeding for #ig days4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,this is the third year that ,mr4 ,heaton has cultivated the improved ,beet ,root with great success1 in three different ways2 namely1 broadcast on ground under garden culture2 and1 in the field1 by dibbling in the seed1 and transplanting the roots4 ,the result fully justifies a preference in favour of dibbling in rows #b feet apart1 as will be seen by the following short statement of the produce obtained under each mode of culture4 ,,produce4 ,broadcast1 on strong land1 spade-trenched1 #aj inches deep1 #ej tons leaving the plants after hoeing nearly #ae inches apart each per acre4 way1 ,transplanted in rows #c feet apart1 and the plants about #ah #bb tons inches apart in each row1 per acre4 ,dibbling the seed in rows #b feet apart1 and the plants left #dh tons #ab inches apart in each row1 per acre4 ,a good crop may be obtained by the broadcast method upon deep1 loose soils1 or upon strong soils spade-trenched1 #aj or #ab inches deep2 but by that mode much seed is wasted1 and much extra expence incurred in labour1 hoeing1 and transplanting1 before the plants are placed #e inches apart each way1 which is very material to insure a good crop1 under that mode of culture4 ,,chap4 ,,iii ,to those who may have been in the habit of cultivating the ,swedish turnip1 it may be desirable to point out the advantages which the improved ,beet ,root has over that turnip4 ,mr4 ,heaton had last year1 in his ,havering ,green field1 the best crop of ,swedish turnips that ,i have ever seen1 upon his farm1 during twelve years' attention to the management of it2 and his intelligent agent and farmer1 ,mr4 ,henry ,gibbons1 assures me1 that he did not see a better crop between ,london and ,derby1 from which latter place he returned in ,december last4 ,the ,swedes in this field were drilled in rows #bd inches apart1 and the plants were left about #i inches apart in each row4 ,i selected #fj square yards1 #f by #aj1 and found the produce to be #beb turnips1 equal to #bj1cef upon an acre4 ,i weighed many of them1 and found them from half a pound to #f pounds each1 averaging #b pounds4 ,the weight upon an acre would1 therefore1 be something more than #ah tons3 less by #cj tons than the produce of an acre of the improved ,beet1 dibbled in rows #b feet apart1 and the plants left #ab inches apart in each row4 ,the improved ,beet has other material advantages over turnips4 ,the crop is more certain1 as the infant root is not injured by the fly2 the ground may be cleared in time to sow wheat upon it1 and the ,beet attaining perfection1 as it does1 before the winter sets in1 much labour and all the difficulty of getting and carting turnips in bad weather are saved to the farmer4 ,a bushel of the sliced ,beet weighs #f pounds heavier than a bushel of ,swede turnip sliced4 ,two bushels of it per day satisfies a bullock better than #b bushels and a half of ,swedes2 and it is well known1 that #b bushels and a half of ,swedes are better than #c bushels of common turnips4 ,sheep are fond of the improved ,beet after ,christmas2 so are pigs1 young cattle1 and cows2 and1 with hay or straw1 it will be found excellent food for young horses4 ,for milch cows1 the ,beets have a decided advantage over turnips4 ,turnips1 from their rankness1 spoil the cream and butter2 ,beet1 from its peculiar sweetness1 improves both4 ,it is strongly recommended to the farmers near ,london to cultivate this root1 and to the cowkeepers in ,london to consume it3 to them it will be found of great value4 ,since the above was written1 the ,author has been favoured with the following information1 from a ,friend1 who left his crop in the ground till spring4 8,my ,beet in the ,old ,yard has stood the late severe frost better than any common turnips1 and perhaps equally well with the ,swedes1 very few indeed being injured4 ,some of them were covered with snow1 but others were exposed4 ,they were rather small1 having been planted so late as ,june40 ,i4 ,k4 8,feb4 #bc1 #ahad40 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,for the information and guidance of those occupiers of land1 who may be desirous of cultivating the improved ,beet ,root upon strong land1 the next ,chapter will contain a particular account of the method used in cultivating that root upon strong land at ,bedfords4 ,the method there stated1 is that which has been found1 on three years' trial1 to be least expensive in the beginning1 and most profitable in the end4--,the cultivation of this root is earnestly recommended to the attention of all persons farming strong lands with a view to profit4 ,it should never be forgotten1 that #dh tons1 the produce of only a single acre1 of this root1 will make #aj bullocks fat enough for the butcher2 and that #f acres1 of equal produce1 will fatten #fj bullocks2 that the profit on each bullock will be considerable2 and that when the business of feeding is over1 the yard will be full of rich dung3 neither should it be forgotten1 that the tenant who sells his straw1 cannot partake of any of these advantages4 ,in proof of this assertion1 the following facts are submitted for consideration3 ,mr4 ,heaton bought two lean ,welch bullocks1 at ,harlow ,bush ,fair1 on the #ith of ,september4 ,they cost together #cd4 ,they were pastured on the ,rowens till the #bjth of ,november following1 when they were tied up1 and fed with ,beet ,root and oat straw till the #ith of ,february following1 when they were sold together1 in ,romford market1 for the sum of #ej2 yielding in twenty-two weeks1 a profit of #af1 which is equal to #gs4 #c;d4 per week1 for each bullock4 ,these two bullocks were tied up twelve weeks each1 in which time they ate eight tons #b cwt4 of ,beet ,root1 the produce of only one-sixth part of an acre of land1 cultivated according to the method recommended in the following chapter4 ,,chap4 ,v4 ,,the ,,method ,,used ,,in ,,the ,,cultivation ,,of ,,the ,,improved ,,beet ,,root ,,upon ,,strong ,,land ,,at ,,bedfords4 ,it may be proper1 in the first place1 to state what is meant by strong land4 ,the surface soil is loamy1 and from #d to #ab inches deep1 upon a bed of strong clay mixed with gravel4 ,it is too heavy1 and generally too wet1 in the winter1 even for sheep to eat a crop of turnips on the ground2 and although good turnips are grown upon it1 it is always necessary to draw them for the sheep1 stall-fed cattle1 or for cattle in the yards4 ,the ground is prepared to receive the seed1 and cleaned in the same way as it would have been for ,swedish turnips4 ,as that part of the business is so well known to all farmers1 it is not necessary to enter into detail upon it4 ,in the middle1 or latter end of the month of ,april1 the furrows are set out with the plough1 #b feet apart1 and double ploughed2 that is1 the plough returns on the furrow to the point whence it set out1 forming a ridge between each furrow4 ,double ploughing with a common plough is preferred to single ploughing with a double mould board plough1 because it affords a greater depth of loose earth than the double mould board plough would produce4 ,in these furrows1 the manure1 which should be in a rotten state1 is deposited1 after the rate of six cubic yards to an acre4 ,the ridges are then split by the plough going and returning the same way as before mentioned1 leaving the manure immediately under the middle of the new ridges1 ,a light roller is then passed along the ridges1 in the middle of which the seed is dibbled1 so that the plants may receive all the benefit which can be derived from the manure4 ,the seed is deposited about an inch deep whilst the moisture is fresh in the earth1 and covered by drawing a garden rake along the rows4 ,after this1 the light roller is again passed along the ridges1 and the work is finished4 ,when the plants are about the size of a radish1 they are hoed with a turnip hoe1 leaving the plants in the rows about #ab inches apart4 ,if any of the seeds fail1 and there happen not to be an even crop1 the roots1 where they are too thick1 are drawn out before the hoeing takes place1 and transplanted1 to fill up the vacant places1 and insure a full crop1 which is always certain1 inasmuch as #ii plants out of #ajj1 thrive and do well4 ,in transplanting1 care is necessary to prevent the point of the root from turning upwards4 ,the weeds1 whilst the plants are young1 are kept hoed1 but after the head of the plant has once spread1 no weed can live underneath its shade1 and the expence of hoeing afterwards is very trifling indeed4 ,the whole of the crop is taken up in the month of ,november1 in dry weather4 ,the tops are cut off near the crown of the plants1 and the plants1 when perfectly dry1 are piled up in a shed1 and covered with straw sufficiently thick to preserve them from the frost4 ,they kept last year till the latter end of ,march1 and they would have kept much longer4 ,the seed may be had of ,cochran1 seedsman1 in ,duke ,street1 ,grosvenor ,square2 of ,messrs4 ,gibbs and ,co4 ,half ,moon ,street1 ,piccadilly2 and of ,mr4 ,mason1 ,fleet ,street4 ,from #c to #d pounds of the seed will be sufficient for an acre of ground1 prepared and dibbled according to the method here stated4 ,the price last year was #gs4 per pound1 but it may probably be less hereafter1 as the growers of the root1 so long as that high price continues1 will of course save their own seed1 and thereby lessen the demand from the seedsman4 ,,the ,,method ,,before ,,described ,,elucidated4 ,form of the ridges before manuring4 a a a a _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ b b b ,the tops of the ridges about #b inches broad1 a4 a4 a4 ,intervals of #bd inches from one a to another4 ,depths about #ab inches from a to b4 ,furrows where the manure is deposited1 b4 b4 b4 ,form of the ridges after splitting and rolling4 ,a ,a ,a ,a --- --- --- --- _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ ,b ,b ,b ,b ,tops ,a4 ,a4 ,a4 #i inches broad1 in the middle of which the seed is deposited4 ,situation of the manure ,b4 ,b4 ,b4 ,,chap4 ,,vi4 ,it will not be supposed1 by any intelligent farmer1 that where the quantity of the ,improved ,beet ,root given daily to a bullock is stated1 it is meant that it should be given without dry food4 ,it may1 however1 be necessary to say1 that the same dry food must be given with the ,beet as is usually given with turnips4 ,mr4 ,heaton last year gave oat straw only1 and the bullocks did well upon that food1 and were sold to profit4 ,no doubt they would have been ready for the butcher sooner1 had good hay been given to them3 but this fact may be relied upon1 that fresh bullocks1 fed upon the ,beet ,root and oat straw1 will1 in #c months time1 get fat enough for the butcher4 ,it may also be necessary to observe1 that not a word1 here stated1 is intended to apply to such light turnip soils as will bear the trampling of sheep1 without injury to the land4 ,mr4 ,heaton has none such upon his farm1 and ,i have not sufficient knowledge of the management of turnip land1 of that description1 to say1 whether prudence would warrant any trial of the ,beet ,root upon a large scale1 on such soil1 to be eaten on the land4 ,where a field1 selected for a crop of ,beet1 happens to be in a foul state1 the seed had better be sown in a garden1 and the whole field planted with the young ,beet1 when of the size of a radish4 ,this will give time for cleaning the ground1 and fitting it for a crop2 for1 although the ,beets are destroyers of weeds1 it is not meant to recommend the sowing them on foul ground1 or in any way to encourage a slovenly system of farming4 ,although manure has been used in the cultivation of this root1 it is not absolutely necessary2 and1 if not in a rotten state1 it does mischief4 ,good crops have been obtained at ,bedfords without manure1 and without injury to the succeeding crops of corn4 ,beet is fed from a depth considerably below the reach of the plough1 as generally used2 so that it does not draw the surface soil in which corn is fed4 ,the method of cultivating the ,beet ,root here recommended1 is the same as that which is used in the cultivation of turnips1 in ,northumberland and other parts of the north1 with this exception1 that the rows there are #bg inches apart4 ,there may be reasons in the north for still preferring that space1 but in ,essex the effect of it1 in the cultivation of ,beet ,root1 would be1 that1 instead of #dh tons per acre1 #dc tons only would be obtained4 ,experience has proved1 that the roots do not get to a larger size in rows #c feet apart1 than they do in rows #b feet apart4 ,it may1 therefore1 fairly be presumed1 that they would not be larger in rows #bg inches apart2 and if not larger1 the weight of the crop1 per acre1 must be less1 because the plants decrease in number as the rows increase in space4 ,the advantages that would arise from the cultivation of these roots1 upon a small part of every strong-land-farm throughout the kingdom1 must be obvious4 ,calculations might be given that would astonish and almost exceed the belief of most readers4 ,such calculations1 however1 in general1 are but little attended to1 and it is thought better to omit them1 hoping that enough has been said upon the subject1 to fix the attention of every person interested in the cultivation of land4 ,illustration3 ,fleuron ,,appendix4 ,illustration3 ,fleuron ,workington ,hall1 ,cumberland1 ,march #i1 #ahad4 ,,sir1 ,i had the pleasure of receiving your obliging favour last night1 with two copies of the publication on ,mangel ,wurzel4 ,i have cultivated that root for some years with success4 ,from the ,bishop of ,derry ,i learnt to apply the leaves to soiling my milch cows and pigs4 ,the leaves of a good crop are from #aj to #ae tons per acre4 ,i have steeped the seed and mixed it with sand previous to sowing1 by which means it vegetates immediately4 ,i have had #fj tons per acre on #c feet stiches1 #i inches between the plants1 and have kept the roots good till the middle of ,may4 ,i have given the seed to many of my cottagers1 who have grown the roots for their pigs1 and they have found them to answer well4 ,i am1 c4 ,j4 ,c4 ,,curwen4 ,barrowby1 ,lincolnshire1 ,december #ae1 #ahad4 ,,sir1 ,for the last four winters ,i have constantly fed my milch cows with ,beet1 but ,i never exceeded1 ,i believe1 a bushel per day to each2 not from any apprehension of ill effects when given in larger quantities4 ,my object was1 to make it last the longer1 as the milk and cream were evidently much improved thereby4 ,the cows always had plenty of hay with the ,beet1 and when the weather1 or rather the state of the land would admit1 they were turned into a grass field adjoining my farm yard4 ,mr4 ,turney1 of ,sedgbrook1 who has finished off some bullocks this ,autumn1 whilst at grass1 with ,beet1 has given it with great good effect to his milch cows for the last two winters1 and he is at this time keeping a new-calved heifer upon it4 ,i may add1 that ,i have always found the milk to be increased in quantity1 as well as improved in quality1 whilst the ,beet was used4 ,as to the weight of my crop1 this year1 it is much less than usual4 ,my land1 you know1 is old garden ground1 and produced a crop of ,beet last year1 ,swedes the year before1 and carrots in #ahaa4 ,a tenacious loam1 on clay1 difficult to work in the ,spring4 ,on this ,i got only #g cwt4 #b qrs4 on #f yards by #aj1 which is after the rate of #cj tons per acre4 ,i am1 c4 ,,jonathan ,,kendal4 ,stag ,brewhouse1 ,december #ah1 #ahad4 ,,sir1 ,herewith you receive my report of a small piece of land1 planted with ,mangel ,wurzel by ,colonel ,elliott4 ,i have been as correct as possible1 and have to observe1 that ,i think the culture of it well worth the attention of every farmer4 ,the latter end of ,april1 #ahad1 ten poles of land were sown with ,mangel ,wurzel1 #bj inches distance1 in drills2 the plants in the row thinned to about #ae inches4 ,the land poor1 consisting principally of brick rubbish and road scrapings1 with a slight coat of rotten dung previous to the sowing4 ,it had two hoeings after the plants were thinned4 ,the plants in two of the rows1 about the centre of the piece1 were set out #b feet apart1 but these were not larger than where they were at #ae inches4 ,on the #hth of ,november the whole crop was taken up1 and1 after cutting off the heads1 were packed up in a loft4 ,to prevent any incorrectness in calculating the weight by the number of the roots1 the whole crop was weighed1 which amounted to #c tons1 #a cwt4 #ef pounds1 which is according to the rate of #di tons #d cwt4 per acre4 ,a large portion of the roots weighed from #g lbs4 to #ab lbs4 each4 ,when the rows were first thinned1 some other pieces were planted with the spare plants1 but these did not succeed so well3 they were much less than the others4 ,hogs are remarkably fond of this root1 and thrive very fast with it3 cows are also very eager after both leaves and root4 ,colonel ,elliott began feeding his cows with the ,mangel ,wurzel in ,july2 the weather being very dry1 we were very short of grass4 ,we began with the leaves1 and soon after with the roots of two pieces1 which were transplanted4 ,the cows looked well and increased in their milk1 and were partially fed with the roots till the crop was taken up4 ,the roots were then sliced1 and as much of them given to the cows 7with a little hay7 as they could eat2 the milk increased immediately1 and the cows improved in flesh4 ,my opinion is1 that the ,mangel ,wurzel is a most valuable article of food to the farmer2 because1 in a severe winter1 when turnips are in general destroyed1 these roots1 properly stacked in a dry place1 and covered so as to prevent severe frosts from injuring them1 will be a certain supply of nutricious and fattening food1 7if cultivated in sufficient quantity7 until the spring grass is fit to turn in upon4 ,i should conceive1 if the seed is put into the ground in the month of ,may1 after the manner practised in drilling turnips on ridges1 that no doubt can be entertained of obtaining a full crop4 ,as ,mangel ,wurzel exceeds all other winter food1 from being preserved under cover without injuring the quality1 so it will prevent a recurrence to the expensive food of oil cake or corn4 ,i am1 c4 ,g4 ,t4 ,,boult4 ,kentish ,town1 ,december #bi1 #ahad4 ,,sir1 ,having presented one of your books to ,mr4 ,richard ,laycock1 a considerable farmer and cowkeeper at ,holloway1 with a request that he would cultivate the root1 he did me the favour to make choice of a piece of land1 containing #a rood and #bj perches1 which had been part of a field1 composed of brick earth or strong clay1 in the procurement of which1 the field had for several years past been dug over to a great depth below the original surface4 ,on this piece he caused a quantity of soil and rotten dung intermixed therewith to be laid1 and the ground levelled1 about #aj or #ab inches deep4 ,in the month of ,may he commenced dibbling the seed in rows #b feet asunder1 and #a foot apart in the rows2 but1 for want of time1 only about one third part of the crop was got in by this mode4 ,the remainder was transplanted in the middle of ,june4 ,the whole of the land was kept perfectly clean1 and1 while confined to the upper soil1 the plants made rapid progress4 ,had the subsoil been of a yielding nature1 the crop would have been extraordinary2 but it was observable1 although the tap roots were particularly vigorous1 that so soon as they had penetrated to the unbroken clay1 they invariably divided and turned off in a horizontal direction1 and afterwards threw out fibrous shoots without number4 ,the seed was procured from a nurseryman at ,fulham1 and was particularly good4 ,very few of the plants ran up to seed2 those that did so1 were not suffered to remain1 but were taken up and given to the cows1 as were also the lower leaves1 which were repeatedly stripped off in considerable quantities4 ,in the middle of ,november the whole crop was drawn off and weighed1 after being cleared of the tops and loose dirt4 ,the produce was #ae tons and a few pounds over1 average weight of the roots1 #e pounds4 ,correspondent produce #dj tons per acre4 ,although this experiment on ,mr4 ,laycock's land falls short of those stated in your ,treatise1 yet1 when the extreme unfavourableness of its situation is considered1 that of an exhausted brickfield1 the deficiency is easily accounted for4 ,indeed ,i cannot help thinking its result such1 as to hold out considerable temptation to occupiers of strong clay farms1 whereon turnips cannot successfully be cultivated1 to make trial of a root1 which1 with previous winter plowing1 promises more profit than can be obtained from any other crop that ,i know of#a4 ,the increase of live stock and radical improvements of such farms must necessarily follow4 ,i am1 c4 ,,peter ,,potter4 ,footnote #a3 ,this description of soil in some seasons is too wet to warrant the removal of a crop of ,mangel ,wurzel in ,november4 ,when grown on such soils to be used early in the winter1 the crop may be taken up in ,october2 if intended for use in the cold spring months it may remain1 with perfect safety1 till the ground is sufficiently dry to prevent harm being done by the wheels of carts and the trampling of horses4--,,editor4 ,lincroft ,house1 ,lichfield4 ,december #ac1 #ahad4 ,,sir1 ,i have for your information weighed and taken a pretty accurate account of my small crop of ,mangel ,wurzel1 which ,i have lately gathered out of a garden belonging to my farm4 ,the length of the garden is #fb yards2 and the breadth of the part sown #ab yards1 and the produce1 according to my firm belief and best calculation1 is #d tons1 #f cwt4 #dj pounds1 and ,i am well convinced in my own mind1 that had ,i properly attended to the culture of this root1 ,i might have obtained a much greater produce1 even in that space of ground2 for1 you will observe1 ,i have not strictly adhered to the plan laid down in your little publication4 ,in the first instance1 the ground was very foul at the time of sowing1 and the plants1 when growing1 were about #ah inches apart one way1 and nearly one yard the other2 there being only #ac rows in the space of #ab yards1 and the garden too surrounded with trees1 so that ,i consider every thing was unfavourable4 ,i further beg leave to state as my opinion1 that as the ground is very strong1 it is not well adapted to the growth of ,beet1 and as most of the roots were transplanted1 they had not a fair chance4 ,transplanted roots are seldom so good as those which have not been removed4 ,i have given ,beet ,root1 for two years past1 both to feeding and milch cows with good effect4 ,i am c4 ,j4 ,,padmore4 ,wheston1 ,tideswell1 ,december #af1 #ahad4 ,,sir1 ,my ,beet ,root this year was sown upon light dry limestone land1 of good quality1 perfectly clean1 but in a high situation and cold climate4 ,the seed was partly sown in beds a yard and a half in width1 partly drilled1 and partly dibbled in ridges at the distance of #bh inches1 and the plants left #ab inches apart after hoeing4 ,the rows drilled came up much the best1 and continued altogether the finest plants4 ,they were thinned and hoed early4 ,the dibbled seed missed in a great number of places#b2 the vacancies were supplied from the drilled rows1 transplanted at different ages1 and at different times of the year1 7as the season suited for the purpose17 but none of them grew in size or luxuriance#b equal to those left standing in the drilled rows4 ,in the beds the plants were extremely numerous1 but they had not the same advantages of being thinned and hoed so early as the drilled rows1 and they were in general small in size4 ,footnote #b3 ,probably planted too deep4--,,editor4 ,i had a most productive supply of green food to the fold yard1 during the months of ,september and ,october1 from the tops1 and during the latter month many of the plants which had run to seed1 were also taken up and consumed in the same way4 ,they were given to milch cows morning and evening1 during milking time1 and to store pigs in the fold yard4 ,the produce on #f yards by #aj was #bjf roots in number1 and #dgg pounds in weight1 to which may be added about one-tenth more for plants consumed before the crop was taken up4 ,i think the ,beet ,root affords a very material increase to the stock of green food1 of the best quality in the ,autumn4 months1 and1 when grown near enough to the farm yard to be taken daily as wanted1 without too great an expence in labour and carriage1 that mode of consuming the leaves and some of the roots may be resorted to with great advantage1 and it may be found a resource of no small use in dry seasons4 ,cattle in general eat both the root and top with eagerness4 ,pigs prefer them to any other vegetable food4 ,i have occasionally given the roots in winter to horses1 and particularly to brood mares and to foals1 with hay1 and they have invariably done well4 ,i am1 c4 ,,john ,,shaw4 ,these and many other letters have been received by the author from gentlemen residing in different parts of the kingdom1 recommending1 from their own experience and success1 the culture of the improved ,beet ,root1 to those farmers who have yet to learn its value4 ,in so doing1 they are not actuated by any sordid motive or selfish principle4 ,to do good to others is their aim1 and to promote the public welfare the utmost of their ambition4 ,,finis4 ,j4 ,swan1 ,printer1 #gf1 ,fleet ,street1 ,london4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,transcriber',s ,,notes ,typographical errors fixed2 non-standard spelling and dialect retained4 ,used numbers for footnotes4 ,enclosed italics font in underscores4