THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



421 



CULTIVATION OF THE TURNIP. 



In former papers upon the cultivation of the turnip 

 wo have considoied the proper systems under which this 

 crop is raised upon sorts of different characters and 

 under various circumstances. We have thus traced 

 its manag:emcnt up to the period when its growth com- 

 inonces. Wo now purpose to notice the cultivation 

 which the plant requires during this time ; for how- 

 ever good the previous system adopted, and however 

 suitable the manure may be, the whole is rendered 

 valueless unless the subsequent care bestowed upon the 

 crop is such as to render it productive. 



The first operation which is necessary after the 

 sowing of the crop is the Iioeing. There is frequently 

 a doubt in persons' minds as to the time when this 

 should be commenced. Until the plant gets into its 

 rough leaf it is not safe from the attack of the turnip 

 beetle ; and it would manifestly be impolitic to thin 

 the crop whilst it is still in danger of being destroyed 

 by this enemy. We are therefore unavoidably brought 

 to this point — that it must be after the crop is in rough 

 leaf. As soon as the crop is well into rough leaf, and 

 the plants firmly settled into the land, tlio hoeing may 

 be commenced. If it is delayed so that they draw each 

 other up, the plants become weakened and their after- 

 growth is prejudiced thereby. The distance at which 

 they are hoed out varies in difTerent districts ; but the 

 quality of the soil and the time they are required for 

 use must be our guides. As a rule few persons hoe 

 tliem out sufficiently wide ; and there is strong reason 

 to think that a greater freedom for the roots is cal- 

 culated to increase the crop very materially. If the 

 land is good the roots will grow to a larger size than on 

 poorer soils, and for this reason should have more 

 space ; whilst, on the other hand, when the land is 

 inferior in quality, more roots are desirable, because 

 they are sure to be small. 



The time at which they are required is worthy of 

 consideration ; for, if the roofs are wanted late in the 

 spring, a moderate-size root is always more firm, and 

 withstands the frost belter than large roots ; conse- 

 quently those intended for spring use should not be 

 allowed as much i-oom, and may be left thicker in the 

 rows. This is the best way to increase the number of 

 roots, for it is far pi'eferable to any decrease in the 

 width between the drills, as we require under any 

 circumstances sufficient room for tillage; and the same 

 space is therefore necessary. From 24 to 28 inches is 

 the best width. The early-sown cropsof swede may 

 be allowed the 28 inches with much advantage, for 

 the horse-hoe can work much longer than it otherwise 

 could ; but as it comes later in the season, the width 

 may be decreased to 24 inches ; but less than this is not 

 desirable. The hoeing in the rows is generally done by 

 hand ; but some excellent machines are now made 

 for performing this by horse-power, which will be of 



valuable assistance to large turnip growers, especially 

 in districts where labour is scarce. 



This part of the work being done, the siugling of the 

 plant next claims attention. It is the experience of 

 practice as well as the opinion which a knowledge of 

 the principles of vegetable growth would lead us to, 

 that plants thrive more luxuriantly from standing 

 alone. Few will bo disposed to dispute this fact ; still 

 there are some who hold a contrary opinion. The 

 practice of singling late-sown turnips is less general, 

 and many advocate that such turnips should be left 

 double. This can certainly be understood when the 

 desire is to have small turnips, for this plan secures 

 them of a small size. When the land throws the roots 

 larger than they can withstand the frosts, there may be 

 just cause for the pi-actice; but this very fact proves 

 the importance of singling them when you require a 

 heavy crop. It is, however, doubtful whether the 

 same result as regards size would not be more bene- 

 ficially attained by having ^thc plants singled, but 

 left closer in the rows, and the crop thereby increased 

 in weight. 



The horse-hoeing between the rows is unquestionably 

 a most valuable process, and every day's experience 

 and observation affords convincing proof of the fertili- 

 zing influence of this operation. The more we know 

 of the character of our soils and the influence of atmo- 

 spheric agents upon them, the more do we see that we 

 have a great reward in the diligent cultivation of 

 the soil. Wo well know how that the atmosphere 

 contains matter valuable for the development of 

 vegetable growth, and the more we expose the soil 

 to its influence, the more fully does it imbibe these 

 fertilising matters. In like manner by passing the 

 rain through the soil we derive other advantages of a 

 similar character, and at the same time we promote 

 the decomposition of the soil and the manures it con- 

 tains. We may safely rely upon it that we do not half 

 value the influence of any of those tillage operations, 

 which stir up fresh portions of the soil and expose 

 them to the air. Every time the horse-hoe goes over 

 the land it effects this, and renders the soil more and 

 more capable of imbibing those fertilizing ingredients 

 which have been proved to exist in the air. Thus not 

 only is the land kept clean by the desti-uction of weeds, 

 but the roots of the crop, having greater freedom for 

 spreading, extend over the entire space between the 

 rows, and are thereby enabled to gather larger supplies 

 of food for the crop, and consequently this increases 

 the produce. Rely upon it, the active and persevering 

 use of the horse-hoe between the rows is of the greatest 

 importance for promoting the fertility of the land, and 

 the weight of the crop. It should not be confined to 

 the surface, but the soil should be stirred deeply. 



The mildew, which is a fungus growth upon the 



