I have for your information weighed and taken a pretty accurate account of my small crop of Mangel Wurzel, which I have lately gathered out of a garden belonging to my farm. The length of the garden is 62 yards; and the breadth of the part sown 12 yards, and the produce, according to my firm belief and best calculation, is 4 tons, 6 cwt. 40 pounds, and I am well convinced in my own mind, that had I properly attended to the culture of this root, I might have obtained a much greater produce, even in that space of ground; for, you will observe, I have not strictly adhered to the plan laid down in your little publication. In the first instance, the ground was very foul at the time of sowing, and the plants, when growing, were about 18 inches apart one way, and nearly one yard the other; there being only 13 rows in the space of 12 yards, and the garden too surrounded with trees, so that I consider every thing was unfavourable. I further beg leave to state as my opinion, that as the ground is very strong, it is not well adapted to the growth of Beet, and as most of the roots were transplanted, they had not a fair chance.
Transplanted roots are seldom so good as those which have not been removed. I have given Beet Root, for two years past, both to feeding and milch cows with good effect.
I am &c.
J. Padmore.
Wheston, Tideswell,
December 16, 1814.
Sir,
My Beet Root this year was sown upon light dry limestone land, of good quality, perfectly clean, but in a high situation and cold climate. The seed was partly sown in beds a yard and a half in width, partly drilled, and partly dibbled in ridges at the distance of 28 inches, and the plants left 12 inches apart after hoeing. The rows drilled came up much the best, and continued altogether the finest plants. They were thinned and hoed early. The dibbled seed missed in a great number of places[[2]]; the vacancies were supplied from the drilled rows, transplanted at different ages, and at different times of the year, (as the season suited for the purpose,) but none of them grew in size or luxuriance[[2]] equal to those left standing in the drilled rows. In the beds the plants were extremely numerous, but they had not the same advantages of being thinned and hoed so early as the drilled rows, and they were in general small in size.
[2]. Probably planted too deep.—Editor.
I had a most productive supply of green food to the fold yard, during the months of September and October, from the tops, and during the latter month many of the plants which had run to seed, were also taken up and consumed in the same way. They were given to milch cows morning and evening, during milking time, and to store pigs in the fold yard.