150 SmcDisn Turnips. [Part II.' 



groundf. However, I felt very anxious to try the expe- 

 ximent in a small way. 



249. Accorflingly, on the 6th day of June, I ploughed 

 up a small piece of ground, joining my salt meadow, 

 containing aixtij-Jive rods, that had not been ploughed 

 for nearl}^ thirty years. I ploughed the ground deep, 

 and spread on it about ten wagon loads of composition 

 manure; that is to say, rich earth and yard manure 

 mixed in a heap, a layer of each alternately. I then 

 harrowed the ground with an iron-toothed harrow, until 

 the surface Avas mellow, and the manure well mixed 

 with the earth. 



250. On the first of July I harrowed the ground over 

 several times, and got the surface in good order ; but, in 

 consequence of such late ploughing, I dared not venture 

 to cross-plough, for fear of tearing up the sods, Avhich 

 were not yet rotten. On die 7th of July I ridged the 

 ground, throAving four furrows together, and leaving the 

 tops of the ridges four feet asunder, and without putting 

 in any manure. I went very shoal with the plough, 

 because deep ploughing -would have turned up the sods. 



251. On the eighth of July I sowed the seed, in single" 

 rows on the tops of the ridges, on all the ridges except 

 about eighteen. On eight of these I sowed the seed on 

 the 19th of July, when the first sowing was up, and very 

 severely attacked by the Jlea ; and I was fearful of losing 

 the whole of the crop by that insect. About the last of 

 July there came a shower, which gave the turnips a, 

 start ; and, on the eighth day of August I transplanted 

 eight of the remaining rows, earli/ in the morning. The 

 •weather was now verif dry, and the turnips sown on the 

 19th of July Avere just coming up. On the 10th of 

 August I transplanted the two other rows at mid-day, 

 and, in consequeiice of such dry Aveather, the tops all 

 died; but, in a feAv days, began to look green: And,, 

 in a feAv Aveeks, those that had been transplanted looked 

 as thrifty as those that had been sown. 



252. On the 1 0th of August I regulated the soAvn roAvs, 

 and left the plants standing from six to twelve inches 

 apart. 



253. A part of the seed I received from you, and a 

 part I had from France a foAv years ago. When I 



