On the Culture of Turnips. M 1 



regular and abundant supply of animal food, which, before their 

 general cultivation, could only be supplied during the summer 

 and autumn months : independently, therefoie, of the general 

 amelioration of every crop in succession from turnips, which may 

 be derived from their proper cultivation, this circumstance may 

 be considered as a most valuable consequence of their general 

 adoption. 



If, then, to the general rotation, on all turnip soils, of tur- 

 nips, barley, or oats, clover, one year only, and then wheat, 

 we add an intervening crop of winter tares, on such part, at least, 

 of the shift intended for turnips as is not appropriated for Swedes, 

 I think we shall then have attained the ?ie plus ultra, in system, 

 of advantageous cultivation upon all the turnip soils of the united 

 kingdom ; and after this arrangen)ent, success will mainly de- 

 pend upon the maimer of executing this plan. 



Without possessing any prejudice against the drill system of 

 husbandry, or disa]>proving the use of it in others ; I must here 

 confess, I have never considered its adoption as necessary to 

 ensure a more clean and perfect culture than can be maintained 

 on the broadcast system ; and I believe, on most of the experi- 

 ments which have been made to endeavour to ascertain the pre- 

 eminence of the drill to the broadcast husbandry, each party may 

 boast of such alternate success and defeat, as still to leave the 

 question undecided; and therefore, permitting every man to pur- 

 sue his own taste on this part of the question, I shall proceed to 

 consider of the best mode of cultivating and cleaning the land 

 for turnips, so as to produce the greatest weight of this valuable 

 root, and at the same time ensure the best possible rotation of 

 crops in successsion. In preparing my land for turnips, notwith- 

 standing the adoption of the method of applying recent dung in 

 drills, by the highest practical authority in this kingdom, Mr. 

 Coke; and the sanction of this practice by the highest chemical 

 authority in this or any other nation, Sir Humphry Davy; I 

 am bold enough to declare, that I prefer, infinitely prefer, that 

 fermented putrescent manure from the dung-heap, which adequate 

 and sufficient fermentation can alone produce from the dung of 

 the barton and stable-yard ; and without wluch fermentation, 

 the component parts of all farm-yard and stable-dung are crude, 

 inefficacious, and weak, compared with the effect of dung that 

 has been well fermented, and lain together for a twelvemonth, 

 and then hauldcd out on the land. Having ventured to differ 

 from these two highest authorities, in so essential a point, as a 

 preference of putrescent to recent dung, it vvill be incumbent on 

 me to submit my reasons for such ditfcrcnce, to this Honourable 

 Board, by whom, as well as by the great Professor 1 have named, 

 all facts and arguments submitted to thcin with humility and dit- 



hdencc. 



