$791' ON RUTA BAOA. SJi 



Further account of the Ruta Baga or Swedi/h Turnip. 



IN an early number of this work, the public were informed 

 that this fpecies of turnip preferved its freflinefs and fuc- 

 culence till a very late period of its growth, even after 

 it had produced feed ; and on account of that property, 

 it was recommended to the notice of farmers, as an excel- 

 lent kind of fncculert food for domeftic animals in the 

 fprina; of the year, when common turnips, and moft other 

 winter crops have f-.iled, and before grafs got up to fur- 

 niih an abundant bite for feeding beads. This peculiarity, 

 however, feemed fo Angular, that it was not to be wondered 

 ,it, if many men of found fenfe found themfelves difpofed to 

 doubt the faft — and from that circumftance, I make no doubt 

 but many of thefc have fatisfied themfelves by experiment as 

 to this particular ; this I myfelf have done, and I think it my 

 doty now to communicate the refult of that experiment to 

 the public, being under no appreheniion that it will be contro 

 veiled by the experience of any other peifon : reafoning, 

 in cafes of this kind, is entirely out of the queftion. 



1 find then, that the Rw.a Baga, or Swedifh turnip, begins 

 1o fend cut its (Inwer-ftems in the fpring, nearly about the 

 tame time with the common turnip, but that the root, in cou' 

 icquet.ce of that change of ftate, fuffers very little alteration. 

 I cnntinued to ufe thefe turnips at my table every day till 

 towards the middle of May ; and had I never gone into the 

 garden myfelf, I fiiouKl not even then have fufpedted, from 

 the tafte or appearance of the bulb itfelf, that it had been ihot 

 at all. The ftenis, however, at the feafon I gave over ufing 

 them. Wire from four to five feet high, and in full flower. 

 I fhoiild have continued the experiment longer, had not the 

 quantity I had left for that purpofe been exhaufted, and a few 

 only left tor feed. 



This experiment, however, fully proves, that this kind of 

 turnip ir.ay be employed as a fucculent food for cattle till the 

 middle of May at leaft, in an ordinary year ; and I have not 

 the fmalieft doubt but it will continue perfe<5Hy good for that 

 piirpnfe till the end of May in any feafon ; at which time 

 grafs and other fpring crops can ealily be had for bringing 

 bealts forward in flelh. 1 can therefore, without hefitation, 

 recommend this plant to the farmer as a mof: valuable fpring 

 f<r«liiig for cattle and (beep ; and for this purpofe, I think no 

 wife former (hoiild be without a proportion of this kind of 

 turnip to fucceed the other I'.irts after they fail. The proft 



