t 85 3 



the rule is by no means fo general as fome, who rely 

 on theory only, may be difpofed to believe. 



Experiment Twelfth. 



Among all the varieties of the turnip tribe, the yellow is 

 the mod remarkable, becaufe its colour is not confined to 

 that part of its flcin which appears above ground, as in 

 moil other kinds, but afte&s not only the whole of the 

 flcin, but the flefh alfo. It is by much the fwected and 

 firmed of all the turnip tribe ; and inftead of being injured 

 by the winter's froir, it is in fweetnefs of tade,and tender- 

 nefs of confidence, improved by it. On account of thefe 

 qualities, it is highly valued for the table wherever it is 

 known ; but as it never attains to fuch a fize as the large 

 green-topt field turnip, and is of a confidence rather too 

 firm for cattle whofe teeth are tender, it occurred to me 

 that if a mongrel breed could be obtained between thefe 

 two kinds, it would anfwer extremely well for feeding 

 cattle; and as the experiment could eafily be made with- 

 out trouble or expence, I refolved to try if fuch a kind 

 could thus be obtained. With this view, adopting the 

 principles of the fexual fyftem of Linnaeus, many years 

 ago I planted fome yellow turnips of a true kind for {ecd y 

 and clofe be fide them on both fides I planted fome green- 

 topt turnips. In that fituation they were allowed to flower 

 and to perfect their feeds ; and as care had been taken to. 

 prevent their flower-dems from intermixing with each 

 other, the green-topt turnips were all taken away, and the 

 feeds of the yellow kind were beat out by themfelves. 

 Thefe feeds were fown next feafon, and produced a crop 

 of yellow turnips tinged with a grecnifh cad above ground, 

 the flefh of which was neither fo deep in the colour, nor 

 Co firm of confidence, as the genuine yellow kind, and the 

 fize confiderably larger. It was in every refpect a mongrel 

 G 2 breed, 



