On the first of these points we have now ample experience of its perfect safety however early it be given as food, the only thing needed as precaution being that it should be grated rather than cut in pieces, and mixed with chaff of straw and hay, rather than given whole, along with unchaffed fodder. The root-graters, which of late years have come into general use, are admirably adapted to this treatment of the mangold root, and any proportion between the succulent and the dry food may be thus adopted 'Oita apart from any power of selection on the part of the animal thus fed, which may thus be provided with food just in the proportion needed to keep their aces of the right consistence. This root, when thus gradually given to cattle, or sheep, or swine, may also be safely given to them when in breeding condition. It is a sudden change of food which is injurious to animals in that state, especially if it be from comparatively dry to succulent food. Mangolds are very succulent, but if „animals are gradually accustomed to them, and at the same time drier food be mixed with them when ever the necessity is seen, Ao harm has been done by their free use for either sheep, pigs, or cows.
The Impression that mangolde are an exhauster of the toil, has a real foundation in the fact that they generally produce twice as great s crop as swedes do; but probably the chief cause for the belief exists in the fact that swedes are generally consumed on the land by sheep. whereas mangolds, owing to their being less able (in fact
unable) to withstand the frost, are more generally removed from the land and consumed in yards.
In order to protect this crop from the frost it must be lifted early in October, and carried to heaps either in sheds, or in pits on the ground and covered up with straw and earth. It is well to let them remain for a fortnight lightly covered with straw before covering them up with earth, as time is thus given for ventilation, and they dry a little, and are less liable to ferment and rot when in the closed heap. They may be gradually brought Into consumption from early autumn, and given to all sorts of stock with perfect safety ; but it is in late spring, and even through the summer, that their greatert value as feeding stuff is seen. When awedes and turnips get tough and pithy,/ they are still crisp and juloy,and increase in sweetness as they increase in age.
Fur small dairies the mangold is especially valuable, 89 during autumn a few of the lower leaves of the plant, still good as food, may be removed from it for that purpose and given to the cows. The mangold produces a poor milk, and a white butter, when given as the only food. This butter has a slightly bitter taste. but it has no such disagreeable taste as when derived from the consumption of turnips or cabbages.