326 ON THE MATURATION OF GRAIN 



and the plough drawn between the drills, to 

 throw up a slight covering of the soil over the 

 bulbs, as in the south of France, as a protection 

 against the inclemency of the season. 



What is true of the turnips in particular, as an 

 article of food, is true with regard to beet root, 

 mangel wurtzel, carrots, parsnips, &c. in general; 

 each one, and all kinds must be secured as soon 

 as vegetation ceases ; and before any change 

 previous to fertilisation and fructification is evi- 

 dent ; similar care being bestowed in storing them, 

 to prevent any vital action from commencing, or 

 any decay from arising among them. 



Our subject just points out to us another 

 provision of nature of which we ought to take 

 advantage, and that is, the maturing and gather- 

 ing of turnip and biennial seeds for sowing. The 

 natural dissemination of such seeds is by scat- 

 tering them over the soil, where they remain 

 inert during the winter. The soil is hence their 

 proper receptacle, and not the air in which we 

 keep them. And as such seeds are furnished with 

 oleaginous matter, to protect them against the 

 effects of moisture within the soil, and such 

 matter is more or less dissipated by the air, we 



