Slightly off topic, as children we loved to watch Mr.Hughes a farmer ,chopping mangold worzels or wurzels, in a machine, for the sheep and cows in winter .
He would give us each a chunk to eat .
It was hard like a carrot ,sweet and crunchy ,pale orange in colour rather like a swede.Good when the hay was having to be used carefully.
A variety of beetroot so probably related to sugar beet.
They were stored in a ‘ clamp” on the ground,first a layer of straw then .mangolds, more straw etc in many layers .
Finally a thick lay er of straw then a topping of earth ,all then covered with turf.
They stayed fresh throughout the Winter ,like the home grown potatoes ,carrots ,turnips and swedes stored in the same way.
The “ clamp” was accessed from the side ,to keep the layers intact and protected throughout the winter.Oooh, I could just eat a piece .
They all stored very well.
Didn’t our forebears know a thing or two!
Viktoria.
