Disease in Turnips 



M 



same land does not invariably produce disease, as 

 many cases are reported where it prevails to an alarming 

 extent on lands where turnips had never been grown 

 before. 



7. That the storing of turnips during winter in a 

 stubble field intended for turnips the following year, 

 and also the application of turnips, either as sound or 

 diseased to a turnip crop, invariably produces the 

 disease. 



8. That it is not due to any chemical change in the 

 soil. 



9. That it is not dependent on any chemical change 

 in the plant itself, but that the changes observed are 

 the consequences of diseased action. 



10. That insects are invariably present during the 

 earlier stages, and that to their action the disease is to 

 be mainly attributable. 



Now, these statements and results ought to 

 convince Mr Murray that this important sub- 

 ject has not only, as he says, received littk, 

 but that during the last twenty years it has 

 received a great deal of attention. Nine 

 years ago Mr IMurray himself discussed it at 

 the Buchan Chib, holding then a similar poi- 

 sonous theory to that which he does in the 

 communication we publish to-day. 



Eleven years ago The Farmer published 

 a communication on the subject from one 

 of the most acute observers of the day, 

 the late Rev. James Duncan. His ideas 



were, not that it was a disease originating like 

 that of the potato, during the progress of cul- 

 tivation, or in consequence of the influences 

 of cultivation ; for, said he, " we observe an 

 affection in wild plants of the same natural 

 order, as nearly like it as the difterent condi- 

 tions of growth can be supposed to admit of. 

 In the other cruciferous plants similarly affec- 

 ted, the malady can be traced to the opera- 

 tion of insects ; and this of itself affords a 

 strong presumption that it proceeds from the 

 same cause in the turnip. Indeed, of all the 

 views that have been advanced, the insect 

 theory is the most probable, and it may be 

 regarded as nearly demonstrated as such 

 cases admit of." But with that sagacity which 

 characterized Mr Duncan, he added, " even if 

 it were not admitted that the fly in question 

 is the entire or originating cause of the disease, 

 it is still most desirable that its increase 

 should be prevented^ for no one will deny 

 that it hastens rapidly the decay and putrefac- 

 tion of the bulb." We agree with Mr Duncan 

 that finger-and-toe results from insect injury, 

 although we do not quite hold, as he did, that 

 strong plants are as liable to insect attacks as 

 sickly ones. Mr Murray's paper is, however, 

 well worthy of perusal. 



BREEDING OF AGRICULTURAL HORSES. 



By Mr T. LoNGWooD.'' 



THERE are certain laws which govern the 

 principles of breeding which, when 

 followed up and persevered in, raise the 

 standard of animals so bred. A disregard 

 of those laws lowers the grade in a like degree 

 however pure bred the originals that were 

 commenced with. Now, if I advocated 

 nothing but the purchase of long-priced, 

 good brood mares as a start in breeding, 

 tenant-farmers with stiff heavy land to work 

 would, I know, send forth their objections 

 thick and quick, it being a much more 



Read before the Stowmarket Farmers' Club. 



hazardous undertaking to breed colts on 

 heavy than on light land ; still, that course 

 pursued, matching the mares with equally 

 worthy sires, effects not only a saving in years, 

 but establishes a fixed type far more certain 

 to produce good things, than commencing 

 with inferior mares, however carefully and 

 judiciously breeders may continue to pair 

 the sexes. If I look the facts in the face, I 

 find that the plan generally adopted is to ob- 

 tain the services of one stallion for the 

 several mares had in contemplation for breed- 

 ing. Now that apparent cut-short, toss-penny 

 move won't bear inspection. Food consumed 



