Dairy Management. 185 



was upwards of 1^ ton, being more than 16 tons per acre. This 

 cutting was made before the crop had attained its full growth. 

 The average over the whole Avoukl be more. 



Towards the close of July or early in August I sow rape in a 

 seed-bed, for which I use the headlands of crops which are horse- 

 hoed. These plants are taken from the seed-bed and planted 

 after lifting the potatoes in September or October, and produce 

 a crop during the early part of May. Though the operation of 

 planting out is somewhat tedious, yet the produce being available 

 at a time when green food is scarce, I find its cultivation remu- 

 nerative. My produce this season is equal to about 7 to 8 tons 

 per acre. This spring crop is cut in time to be followed by cab- 

 bage and kohl-rabi. 



The properties of green rape as food for sheep are well known. 

 In Morton's Cyclopaedia I find a complete analysis, showing it to 

 be rich in flesh and fat forming constituents. Di\ Voelcker cha- 

 racterises it as richer in fatty matter than any other green crop 

 used for food. During the month of October and early in 

 November I give it both to my milk and fattening cows : they 

 devour it with relish. I have as yet found no green crop equal 

 to green rape at that season of the year. 



In cultivating the cabbage and kohl-rabi, I find it advantageous 

 to plant them in rows of 4 ft. to 4 ft. 6 in. apart, with potatoes 

 between each row. As the potato forms its tubers and expands 

 its foliage, whilst that of cabbage and kohl-rabi are comparatively 

 small, I obtain an abundant crop of each. On the potatoes being 

 lifted, the cabbages nearly cover the whole ground. 



The produce of the cabbages exceeds that of any other vege- 

 table I cultivate : yet on account of its flavour t limit its use 

 to a less quantity than that of any other green food. The kohl- 

 rabi, though not equally productive with the cabbage, is in flavour 

 somewhat more agreeable. 



Rotation of Crops. — The extent of land in tillage in my occu- 

 pation being limited, my rotation is short, and consists of — • 



1st. Mangel or turnips, which are amply manured with fresh 

 excrement from my cattle. I prefer ploughing this into the ground 

 in all its freshness ; but as this is not always practicable in the 

 autumn, when used in spring I mix with it guano, at the rate 

 of 2 to 3 cwt. per acre, for the puipose of accelerating its de- 

 composition. AVith the view of satisfying myself of the effect 

 of this, I mixed a small quantity of guano in a garden-pot filled 

 with fresh excrement ; the effect was soon perceivable from a 

 strong effluvium and an appearance of gaseous bubbles, and a 

 change to yellowness of colour, whilst a pot of excrement without 

 guano in juxtaposition remained comparatively unchanged. This 

 experiment was repeated in my vinery, at a temperature of 56°, 



