COUNTIES OF EDINBURGH AND LINLITHGOW. 27 



cotyledonous stage, and, as a safeguard, a liea\^ seeding is given, 

 from 3 to Sh, or even 4 lbs. per acre being the usual quantity- 

 sown. Many farmers, however, consider that 2 J lbs. of fresh 

 home-grown seed is quite sufficient. And here we may note that 

 selection of seed is, or ought to be, a very important matter with 

 the grower. Having faith in the adage that " like begets like," 

 he should satisfy himself, not only that his seed is descended 

 from a healthy and trustworthy stock, but also that the bulbs 

 from which it was produced had been carefully selected and trans- 

 planted. Seed grown from a miscellaneous crop of bulbs can 

 never be so good as that produced from those which have been 

 selected for their shape, size, and general qualities, because roots 

 of all kinds are liable to deteriorate, unless much care be exer- 

 cised in their propagation. The varieties of swedes grown are 

 Skirviug's, East Lothian, and purple-top ; of common turnips, the 

 white globe, greystone, yellow bullock, and Fosterton hybrid. 

 In singling, the roots are left 10 to 12 inches apart, as a rule, 

 although we have seen many fields where the plants were much 

 nearer, scarcely exceeding 6 or 7 inches. Singlers, unless well 

 looked after, are apt to leave the plants too close together, as few 

 of them can realise the size of a well-develojDed turnip when they 

 see it onlv in its infant stashes. Still, creat care is often exer- 

 cised in the singling, in order that no two plants may be left in 

 close contact, as the growth of both is then abnormal. Hand- 

 hoeing and weeding, with stitch-harrowing and grubbing, are 

 vigorously prosecuted, with the view of keeping down weeds and 

 stirring the soil, so as to allow the air to permeate it until the 

 plants close in the drills and entirely preclude further operations. 

 We may mention that a few farmers have latterly tried the top- 

 dressing of turnips with a mixture of superphosphate and nitrate 

 of soda applied broadcast immediately after singling. This is 

 found to have a beneficial effect upon the plants, and the prac- 

 tice is worthy of being more generally adopted. About 16 to 18 

 tons of swedes, and 22 to 23 tons of common turnips per acre, may 

 be put down as a good average return from first-class land, but the 

 average of both counties on all classes of soil will probably not 

 over-reach IG to 17 tons. The proper storing of turnips is not so 

 well attended to as it might be, neither in the Lothians nor in 

 many other districts of Scotland. Too often they are carted 

 from the fields during the winter as they are required, and in 

 the event of a snow storm occurring or a hard frost setting in, 

 there is a great waste experienced in this " hand to mouth " sys- 

 tem. l>y the latter part of October, or, say up to the middle of 

 November, the roots should be topped and tailed, and carted to 

 the homestetul, or in some way protected from the winter storms. 

 When carted, the roots should be free from frost or rime, or their 

 keeping qualities will be impaired. There are several methods 



