754 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 



Between each row. As the potato forms its tubers and expands 

 its foliage J whilst that of cabbage and kohl-rabi are comparatively 

 small, I obtain an abundant crop of each. On the potatoes being 

 lifted, the cabbages nearly cover the whole ground. 



The produce of the cabbages exceeds that of any other vegeta- 

 ble I cultivate : vet on account of its flavor I limit its use to a less 

 quantity than that of any other green food. The kohl-rabi, though 

 not equally productive with the cabbage, is in flavor somewhat 

 more agreeable. 



Rotation of Crops. — The extent of land in tillage in my occu- 

 pation being limited, my rotation is short, and consists of — 



1st. Mangel or turnips, which are amply manured with fresh 

 excrement from my cattle. I prefer plowing this into the ground 

 in all its freshness; but as this is not always practicable in the 

 autumn, when used in spring I mix with it guano, at the rate of 

 2 to 3 cwt. per acre, for the purpose of accelerating its decompo- 

 sition. With the view of satisfying myself of the effect of this, I 

 mixed a small quantity of guano in a garden-pot filled with fresh 

 excrement; the effect was soon perceivable from a strong effluvium 

 and an appearance of gaseous bubbles, and a change to yellowness 

 of color, whilst a pot of excrement without guano in juxtaposition 

 remained comparatively unchanged. This experiment was re- 

 peated in my vinery, at a temperature of 56^, with a like result. 

 Before I resorted to this 1 observed a comparative slowness of 

 growth of the root crop after the application of the fresh excre- 

 ment, which I do not now perceive. 



My mangel and turnip crops average, from actual weighings, 

 about 25 tons to the acre, that of mangel being somewhat the 

 heavier. 



The estimate of the value of either of these crops is usually 

 made on what it leaves for profit, and reckoned at 8^. to \0s. per 

 ton. This is a very unsafe rule : if taken on its quantum of nu- 

 tritive matter, it assumes a different value; as dry material, you 

 cannot obtain any concentrated food equally nutritive at less than 

 7/. to 8/. per ton, which would give I65. to 20s. per ton as the 

 value in the natural state. 



The great proportion of water contained in these roots would, 

 however, prove a serious drawback to their extended cultivation 

 for sale at a distance. You can convey in hay six times, and in 



