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XXVI. — Bfode of Cultivation and kind of Manure employed for the 

 Turnips and Carrots lohick received Prizes at the Birmingham 

 Show, Dec. 1858. 



Ihj) Farm, Keele, Staffoi-dsliire, 10th Dec. 1858. 

 Sir, — In accordance with your request, I beg to inform you that 

 the land on which the turnips were gi'own that won the prizes at 

 the Birmingham Cattle Show, 1858, is a clay soil of a cold and 

 heavy nature, which dry weather suits much better than wet. In 

 1857 the land had wheat upon it, and after the wheat crop was 

 got hi I ploughed up the stubble with a 12-inch furrow, and 

 allowed it to lie in that state until March, 1858, in order to give 

 it a chance of being thoroughly pulverized. I cross-ploughed the 

 land towards the end of May, and in the early part of June I broke 

 the furrows down and cleaned it ; I then ridged it in the usual 

 way and manured with 20 tons of farmyard manure, 2 cwt. guano, 

 and 2 cwt. superphosphate per acre. The seed I used is bronze- 

 top swede, supplied by Messrs. Burgess and Kent, of Penkhull. 

 Tlie season was dry while the plants were young, and they ap- 

 peared to suffer from it ; but as the season advanced I had the 

 gratification of observing them daily improving, and becoming 

 eventually one of the best crops I have ever seen. 



I had seventeen acres of them, and there was very little dif- 

 ference in the quality of the whole crop. I sowed the guano and 

 superphosphate on the farmyard manure in the ridges, and I have 

 proved by experience that it is a much better plan than sowing 

 artificial manures broadcast. I pursued the same course with the 

 mangold-wurzel, but on a blue clay and a much worse soil, and 

 not with equal success. 



I am, tScc, 



Charles Holland. 



H. S. Thornj>son, Es'^. 



Osherfon„dth Dec. 1858. 



Sir, — I am desired by Mr. Foljambe to send you, in accordance 

 Avitli your request, the following particulars of the mode of manage- 

 ment and the kind of manure used for the carrots that gained the 

 first prize at the late Birmingham show. The land is a light sandy 

 soil. Wheat in 1857 ; afterwards cleared of stubble and weeds ; 

 in November ploughed 10 inches deep, and left for winter frosts. 

 In March, 1858, the land was dragged, harrowed, and rolled until 

 quite fine ; the second week in April put 15 cart loads of good 

 rotten farmyard manure on, then ploughed it in with one of 

 Howard's skim ploughs, 10 inches deep, followed by a subsoil 



