I'jglt 0>T RUTA BAGA. I79 



or fprouts growing on the crown, as he conjednrei they 

 had, becaufe, though I frequently faw them, I never 

 difcovered any ; and I have this year obferved, that 

 many of thofe, which were early in the kit winter eat- 

 en down by the hares, quite into the ground, had in the 

 fpring moll of the reniainiug pieces of the root perfeS:- 

 ly found, though many more of thefe plants were un- 

 der this operation totally deftroyed, than were thofe of 

 the turnip-rooted cabbages. I am likcwife inclined to 

 think, from foi^e flriking differences of the bulbs of 

 thefe two plants, that the Ruta Baga is not merely a 

 variety of the turnip rooted cabbage ; for 1 obferve the 

 Ruta Baga grows much more above the furface of the 

 ground, is almoll globular, and with a fingle and not 

 very large tap-root ; whercr.s the turnip- rooted cab- 

 bages bury themfelves very much in the ground, are 

 frequently (haped like an inverted blunt cone, or not 

 much unlike a fliort thick parfnip ; and altliough I have 

 for many years fown the feed produced by tranfplanted 

 roots, I never have been able to raife them with fewei than 

 two or three ftrong and thick roots or fangs, which occa-. 

 fions them to be railed from the grouud with more difficul- 

 ty and foil than is to be wiflied; however, if I hint my 

 doubts on this head, it is with that diflidence, which 1 flvill 

 ever entertain, when my opinion clafhes with that of fo 

 accurate an obferver as your ingenious and intelligent pro- 

 feffor, to whcfe undertaking I have tlje motive of great 

 perfonal efteem, as well as regard for the public, to wiih 

 the utmcfl fuccefs. 1 have the honour to be. Sir, with 

 the greatell efteem, your iVjolt obedient humble fcrvant, 



Thos. Beevor, 



1791.]' 



]\Iajf 2-^4 



