RUT A BAG A CULTURE 



may be put off, if need be, till early in August, as we have seen in 

 paragraphs 74 and 75. However, the best time for transplanting 

 is about the 26th of July, and this gives a month for preparation 

 of land, more than is allowed in the sowing methods. This, of 

 itself, is a great matter ; but, there are others of far greater 

 importance. 



89. This transplanted crop may follow another crop on the same 

 land. Early cabbages will loave and be away ; early peas will be 

 ripe and off ; nay, even wheat, and all grain, except buck-wheat, 

 may be succeeded by Ruta Baga transplanted. I had crops to 

 succeed Potatoes, Kidney Beans, White Peas, Onions, and even 

 Indian Corn, gathered to eat green ; and, the reader will please 

 to bear in mind, that I did not sow, or plant, any of my first crops, 

 just mentioned, till the month of June. What might a man do, 

 then, who is in a state to begin with his first crops as soon as he 

 pleases ? Who has his land all in order, and his manure ready to 

 be applied. 



90. Another great advantage of the transplanting method is, 

 that it saves almost the whole of the after-culture. There is no 

 hoeing : no thinning of the plants ; and not more than one plough 

 ing between the ridges. This is a great consideration, and should 

 always be thought of, when we are talking of the trouble of trans 

 planting. The turnips which I have mentioned in paragraphs 

 72 and 73 had no after-culture of any sort ; for they soon spread 

 the ground over with their leaves ; and, indeed, after July, very 

 few weeds made their appearance. The season for their coming 

 up is passed ; and, as every farmer well knows, if there be no 

 weeds up at the end of July, very few will come that summer. 



91. Another advantage of the transplanting method is, that you 

 are sure that you have your right number of plants, and those 

 regularly placed. For, in spite of all you can do in sowing, there 

 will be deficiencies and irregularities. The seed may not come 

 up, in some places. The plants may, in some places, be destroyed 

 in their infant state. They may now and then, be cut off with 

 the hoe. The best plants may sometimes be cut up, and the 

 inferior plants left to grow. And, in the broadcast method, the 

 irregularity and uncertainty must be obvious to every one. None 

 of these injurious consequences can arise in the transplanting 

 method. Here, when the work is once well done, the crop is 

 certain, and all cares are at an end. 



92. In taking my leave of this part of my treatise, I must observe, 

 that it is useless, and, indeed, unjust, for any man to expect 

 success, unless he attend to the thing himself, at least, till he has 

 made the matter perfectly familiar to his work-people. To 

 neglect any part of the business is, in fact, to neglect the whole ; 

 just as much as neglecting to put up one of the sides of a building, 

 is to neglect the whole building. Were it a matter of trifling 

 moment, personal attention might be dispensed with ; but, as 

 I shall, I think, clearly show, this is a matter of very great moment 



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