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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



gained by sowing after the corn is up, is the shelter 

 and protection given to the seeds and also to the 

 young plants. A moderate degree of firmness in 

 the soil beneath the seed is not objectionable, as 

 the roots are powerful in piercing the soil, and a 

 sufficient degree of freedom is usually possessed by 

 land sown with spring-corn. 



Turnips and Swedes.— Various as is the 

 practice of different districts in preparing land for 

 these crops, still all agree as to the condition of soil 

 to be attained. These crops flourish on deep and 

 free soils, and especially the turnip, which is far 

 less calculated for strong land than the swede. 

 Upon soils which are naturally strong and adhesive, 

 by good cultivation and manure luxuriant crops 

 are grown : but the great point still to be secured 

 is that fineness and looseness in the condition of 

 the soil which enables the roots of the plants to 

 gather nourishment and make their growth. By 

 ploughing the stronger class of soils before winter, 

 and by active tillage in the spring of the year, 

 these necessary conditions are secured, and thus 

 the tenacious and adhesive qualities of many soils 

 are, for a time at least, changed, and deep tilth is 

 secured, well adapted for the extension of the roots in 

 search of food and moisture. The lighter class of 

 soils are brought into a proper mechanical condition 

 with much less difficulty, so that, instead of the 

 preparation having to be commenced before winter, 

 it is often found desirable to grow a crop of spring 

 feed upon the land, in the expectation that after 

 it has been consumed, one or two ploughings will 

 prove sufficient to prepare for the turnip-crop. It 

 is by no means uncommon for the land to be pre- 

 pared as if for being sown, fourteen or eighteen 

 days in advance. The land in such cases is har- 

 rowed down fine and left in this condition, so that 

 the seeds of any weeds may make a growth, which 

 will be destroyed when the surface is moved in the 

 sowing of the turnip-seed. 



Respecting the cleanness of the land and its 

 friable condition as a preparation for these crops, 

 there will be scarcely any difference of opinion ; 

 but as regards the moisture of the land there will 

 be considerable diversity observable; whilst some 

 cultivators endeavour to get their soils as dry as 

 possible, others regulate their proceedings so as 

 best to preserve the moisture in the soil. Thus, in 

 the practice just mentioned of working the land 

 flne and leaving it undisturbed for a time, so that 

 the seeds of weeds may sprout, some would plough 

 the land up and let it dry for the reception of the 

 seed, whilst others" will be equally particular not 

 to move it farther than by harrowing the surface, 

 for fear of drying it. 



It is not only in this particular instance that 

 there is such contradictory practice, but it pervades 

 all the preparation immediately preceding the 

 sowing of the seed. I have had a fair share of 

 experience in the growth of turnips and swedes, 

 and have always found the dry seed-bed to be de- 

 cidedly preferable. The cause is not difficult of 

 explanation. When seed is deposited in a soil 

 which has been properly cultivated and there is a 

 moderate degree of moisture, it speedily germi- 

 nates. The hot weather which we are accustomed 

 to have at this time, causes a rapid growth, and the 



young plant quickly appears above the surface ; 

 but the warmth which has thus far been productive 

 of apparently good results has probably by this 

 time robbed the soil of so much of its moisture 

 that the supplies to the plant decrease at the 

 most critical time of its existence, and unless rain 

 falls the crop is lost ; or if the turnip-beetle should 

 commence an attack there is but little hope of the 

 plant gaining a mastery. The case is very different 

 when the seed is deposited in a dry soil; there it 

 lies uninjured, waiting for rain, and does not begin to 

 to germinate until it gets it. The rains in June gene- 

 ally afford a tolerably liberal allowance of water when 

 they do come, quite sufficient to carry the seed well 

 through its first stages of growth, until it has a 

 rough leaf and a strong root. The delay is imma- 

 terial as regards time, but not so as regards the 

 safety of the crop. If the seed does germinate 

 during those intervals of dry weather, its existence 

 is really dependent upon a timely supply of rain : 

 but so long as growth has not commenced no fear 

 need be entertained for the crop. Dryness at the 

 time of sov/ing becomes of greater importance as 

 the land gets lighter in its nature and more easily 

 dried by the heat of the sun. . 



The quantity of seed sown to the acre varies 

 from 2 to 6 lbs., according to circumstances. One 

 very frequent cause of failure is mixed seed, of 

 which only a portion will grow. This is easily de- 

 tected by growing a given number of seeds in a 

 pan. When the seed is of good quality, an allow- 

 ance of 4 lbs. per acre is ample, but not excessive ; 

 indeed, I consider that the risks which the plant 

 runs in its early days render a decrease in the 

 quantity of seed very poor economy, and this be- 

 comes evident when we consider how large an 

 outlay is dependent upon the safety of the plant. 

 A liberal supply of good seed gives a far better 

 chance for some to escape the turnip-beetle, because 

 unless it is a very wet season, it is more than pro- 

 bable that the seed will not all germinate at one 

 time, and for this reason patience often does as 

 much good as a second sowing of seed. 



The drill is the best implement for turnip-sowing, 

 and if artificial manure is applied at the same time, 

 as is very desirable, the arrangement of our best 

 drills for getting a layer of earth between the seed 

 and manure is very important. 



The ravages of the turnip-beetle render dibbhng 

 quite unsafe. The seed grows most satisfactorily 

 when deposited about half or three-quarters of an 

 inch beneath the surface : this is shallow enough 

 for a safe growth without causing any unnecessary 

 delay. After the seed has been sown, harrowing 

 once is sufficient to leave the land in proper order, 

 but rolling should in general be avoided. There 

 is a greater variety of opinion as to the time of 

 sowing swedes than any other root-crop. Early 

 sowing, which is favourable — I might say essen- 

 tial — for some districts, is altogether unsuited to 

 others. Thus, "from early in May to the middle of 

 July, swedes are being sown according to local 

 opinions. The principal cause of this is the mildew, 

 which the swedes suffer from if their growth expe- 

 riences a sudden check; but, whilst local pecu- 

 liarities do exist and exert their influence upon the 

 time of sowing, yet I am bound to say that as the 



