f ^2 On the Culture of Turmpj, _ May 



hoe, we mean either the Dutch hoe, provincially called a fcraper, 

 or a fmall plough of the ordinary conftrudlion, drawn by one 

 horfe j and fuch cannot in any foil be fuccefsfully applied, unlefs 

 the intervals betwixt the drills arc from 24 to 30 inches. Horfe^ 

 lioeing at IciTer diftances is a perfe<Sl mockery ; and no hand la- 

 bour, unlefs it is given at a rate of expence exceeding cuftomary 

 profits, can equal the benefits, arifing from introducing horfe-hoe- 

 jng, where turnips are extenfively cultivated. We prefume it is 

 underftood, that the hand^ioe is ufed to fmgle out the plants, 

 and to clean the fide of the drills before the lafL horfe -hoeing is 

 given. 



Our opinion is therefore decidedly in favour of drilling tur- 

 nipsi — this mode permitting every branch of the management to 

 be executed in the mod perfe6l: way. The plan defended by 

 our Yorkfliire friend is confeiTedly fuperior to the ancient way 

 of fowing broadcaft, though ftill, as the benefit of horfe labour 

 is not gained, or at Icaft in a very imperfect manner, it muft be 

 confidered as inferior to the northern fyftem. If the abolifhment 

 of naked fummer-fallow on all the lands capable of carrying tur- 

 nips is intended, it can only be fafely executed by a fteady ad- 

 herence to the mode pointed out by our Northumberland cor- 

 rcfpondent. When in Yorkfliire, we learned that a confiderablc 

 proprietor would not take broadcaft turnips as a fallow crop, 

 and we judge he was in the right. 



Whether a greater or lefler crop of turnips ivill be procured 

 from drilling than from broadcaft, is a queftion often agitated. 

 In our opinion, the iflue is immaterial, unlefs it can be (hown 

 that both modes admit the ground to be equally well managed, 

 which is the true criterion for determining their merits. Wc 

 do not entertain a doubt, but that it is practicable to raife as hea- 

 vy, nay even a heavier crop in the broadcaft fafnion, than by drill- 

 ing, if the plants are very carefully fmgled out ; but that fuch 

 care can be univerfally beftowed, would be the height of folly to 

 expert. In many counties, the rate of population would not per- 

 mit fuch a meafure to be attempted : hence, horfe labour becomes 

 abfolutely necefl'ary, if turnips are to be extenfively and fuccefsfully 

 cultivated. 



We muft remark, that our Yorkfliire friend feems imperfectly 

 acquainted with the drill hufbandry, otherwife he v/ould not have 

 afhgned difadvantages to it which do not exift. The ridges arc 

 generally formed with two bouts of a plough in the firft in-r 

 ^ance, before the dung is fprcad into the furrow; and this ridge 

 is reverfed or fplit, not by a double-moulded plough, but by two 

 bouts of the fame implement which origiuiiily formed it. The 

 height of the ridge is very trifling ; for by the application of ^ 

 lifjht roller, both before and after fowing, the ground is near- 



