Manures for the Growth of Turnips. 165 



The land was fallowed in the usual manner, and ploughed, on the 3rd 

 of June, into ridges 27 inches asunder, and the whole manured with 6 

 cart-loads per acre of good yard manure, made by bullocks eating oil- 

 cake and straw during the last winter. The ridges were then split, 

 rolled, and drilled with a common one-horse ridge drill, at the rate of 

 3 lbs. per acre, of purple-top swede and green-top yellow turnips. 



The first part of them, with 6 bushels of half-inch bones and dust, at 

 2^. 9d. ; 4 gallons of whale-oil, at 2s. Ad. ; and about 40 bushels of 

 ashes, pared from the hedge-sides and burnt. 



The second part, with 20 bushels of scutch, at 1.^. 6(i., and 40 of ashes. 



The third, with a mixture of night-soil and cinder-ashes, worked toge- 

 ther till sufficiently dry to drill, 20 bushels per acre, with 40 of ashes. 



The fourth, with 12 bushels of crushed oyster-shells and 6 gallons of 

 whale-oil, mixed, and 40 of ashes. 



The fifth, with 6 gallons of oil and 40 of ashes. 



The sixth, with burnt ashes only. 



The first and third are decidedly the best, with no perceptible differ- 

 ence between them ; the fourth and fifth are equally good ; the second 

 and sixth are very much the worst, and very insufficient for the pur- 

 pose required. 



I last year used 2000 bushels of bones ; upon the same number of acres 

 I have this year used 200 ; and, by the substitution of other manures 

 in lieu of bones, I have saved in the first year 125/.; and I have, in 

 every respect, to all appearance, as good a crop of turnips. If I have a 

 preference, it is in favour of the night-soil compost ; which costs, when 

 made thoroughly ready for use, about 5^. per ton, of 25 bushels. 



I remain, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



John Marshall. 

 Riseholme, near Lincoln^ 

 Oct, 29, 1841. 



IV. — On the Drainage of Land. 



To H. Handleij, Esq. 



Sir, — In a recent article " On the Drainage of Land " published in 

 your Journal, no mention whatever is made of sod-draining, or of dram - 

 age with the mole-plough ; and thorn-draining is mentioned only inci- 

 dentally. These drains, though not always so permanent as tile or 

 stone drains, are nevertheless so much cheaper as to deserve further 

 notice. 



Of mole-draining I have seen but little; I have never practised it 

 myself. I shall therefore confine my observations to thorn and sod 

 drains: the former of these are applicable chiefly to arable, and the 

 latter to grass lands. I ought to observe that my experience in draining 

 has been confined almost entirely to clay lands — the kind of soil to which 

 these drains are best suited. 



