18S Sketck of the present State of [Sept. 



hoers are generally women and children, accompanied by a 

 steward, or by the farmer himself, to superintend the work. It 

 is wonderful to observe their dexterity, their correctness, and 

 expedition. They push the hoe from them across the drill, 

 destroying all the unnecessary plants which the hoe touches; pull 

 it back with the same effect, seldom leaving more than one plant 

 at every six or eight inches distance. They go on pushing and 

 drawing alternately with the greatest agility and rapidity ; so 

 that you would think, the first time you saw a number of expe- 

 rienced hoers at work, that every plant would be destroyed. 

 But when you look over the ground they have passed, you see 

 the plants left single at measured distances, lying. on their sides 

 connected with the ground only by a single fibre. Even then 

 an unexperienced person would think they could never recover 

 themselves. In a few days, however, they are raised erect, by 

 the power of vegetation, and assume a vigorous appearance. 



Second hoeing. — After the first hoeing the plants make 

 rapid progress. When they have acquired sufficient size for 

 hoeing a second time, the hoers renew their operations. Their 

 business now is to correct any oversights that may have been 

 committed in the first singling: for example, where two or more 

 plants happen to be left together to destroy all but one, and also 

 to cut or kill the weeds thoroughly in the intervals of the drill 

 and on each side. The earth is afterwards drawn up to the roots 

 bv a plough. The crop, then left to the influence of heat and 

 moisture, soon spreads its broad leaves over the whole surfacq 

 of the field, exhibiting the richeat verdure to the eye. ■ 



Crop how employed. — When the grass begins to fail, after 

 harvest, the farmer has recourse to his first sown turnips. In 

 order to sow wheat before winter, some take up the Ruta Baga, 

 or Swedish turnips, before Martinmas, cut off the leaves and 

 roots, carry them home, and lay them up under cover, to be 

 kept till the crop of turnips be consumed. Some, also, for the 

 same purpose, take up a part of their common turnips. The 

 common turnip may be preserved for two months, and the Ruta 

 Baga till Whitsuntide. Thus, by means of Ruta Baga and 

 turnips, the farmer is plentifully supplied with green succulent 

 food for his cattle and horses from Martinmas till Whitsuntide. 



Growing turnips are often let by the acre to be eaten on the 

 ground by sheep. This may be done without injury to the sheep 

 on a clay soil, immediately after harvest, or in the spring : but 

 in light dry soils may be done through the whole winter. The 

 price per acre is from 5l. to 8/. in the country ; but higher near 

 towns where the sale of milk is extensive. To those, indeed, 

 who have not been accustomed to the taste of turnip milk, as it 

 is called, the milk of cows fed on turnips is at first extremely 



