352 State Board of Agriculture, &c. 



plowing, a good coat of manure and phosphates drilled in 

 with the seed, the hind is in good order for the root crop. 



The turnip, as is well known, has a very large and suc- 

 culent top in comparison to the root, therefore it draws the 

 larger jiortion of its support from the atmosphere, conse- 

 quently a smaller portion from the ground. It is a crop 

 which reduces the qualities of the soil hut very little. 



You will have noticed the crop following to have been 

 barley stocked with clover. The clover crop is second 

 only to the turnip in keeping up the fertility of the soil — 

 indeed, I do not know but is equally as good and important in 

 many respects. The plant, being of peculiar construction, 

 also draws a large portion of its support from the atmos- 

 phere ; and, having a long tap root, it descends deep into 

 the ground, far into the subsoil, even to the depth of two 

 or three feet, much deeper than most other plants ; conse- 

 quently, is nourished by plant food that would otherwise 

 be out of the reach of some other crops. Something is 

 here gained that would not be available were it not for the 

 peculiarity of its root. 



In following this rotation the agriculturist knows well 

 that if he can raise a good crop of roots the rest of the rota- 

 tion is very sure. 



This rotation has done so much for Englisli farmers, in 

 increasing the fertility of the soil and also the amount of 

 meat, that they have gradually increased the number of 

 acres devoted to the root crop. 



But still they had two qualities of land remaining which 

 they thought it was impossible to produce turnips on. One 

 was a light sandy soil that had but little compactness ; but, 



