Kolil Rahi. 219 



neighbours, the Frencli agriculturists, are now going through a 

 stage which in this country was passed through some few years 

 ago. The artificial application of electricity, seed-steeping, and 

 other marvels, which were to double the produce of our fields at 

 little cost, have had their day with us ; but the British farmer is 

 still toiling on as formerly, earning his bread by the sweat of his 

 brow and the liberal use of manure, without which he does not 

 find his crops increase. 



3. — Kohl Rahi. — By Chas. Laweence. 



Though avc found this root useful and a favourite food of all 

 stock we discontinued growing it three or four years ago, in con- 

 sequence of the hands required for setting it out at a busy season 

 of the year. In consequence of the then cost of the seed it was 

 treated like cabbage, sown in a seed-bed and planted out. Inas- 

 much as it required only half the distance between the plants as 

 compared with cabbage, planting several acres occupied too 

 much time. The cost of the seed having been considerably 

 reduced, in contemplation of the possible fulfilment of the prog- 

 nostics of a dry, hot summer, and dried-up pastures in the 

 autumn, we drilled three acres with two pounds of seed per 

 acre. We sowed early, and had an abundant plant, which was cut 

 out, leaving plants 18 inches apart. The crop was nearly station- 

 ary for three months during the unusual drought ; but it was never 

 touched by the fly, which entirely destroyed two successive sow- 

 ings of swedes ; more remarkable still, it was not attacked by 

 the grub, which was so destructive during the past season to all 

 other root-crops, and which was abundant over the entire surface of 

 the farm. The bulk of the crop was greatly checked by the ab- 

 sence of rain during the most efl^ective period of growth. We put 

 on it, in fold, 143 young sheep the end of August. After they had 

 been on the ground three weeks and five days, we added sixty 

 more, making: 203. These finished off the three acres in five weeks 

 and three days, the crop thus lasting nine weeks. The plants 

 were eaten off without pulling, and were perfectly consumed, even 

 to the sucking the juices from the tops of the stems. The sheep 

 had some mixed chaff to run back on. Our shepherd reported 

 that he had never known young stock thrive so well, both in flesh 

 and wool. 



The freedom from all attack by the insect-tribe during such a 

 summer as the last is so material a consideration that we have 

 thought it desirable to communicate that fact to our brother 

 farmers, and to recommend their sowing a few acres of this seed 



