SWEDISH TURNIPS 



252. On the loth of August I regulated the sown rows, 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 few years ago. When I gathered the crop, the 

 transplanted turnips were nearly as large as those that stood where 

 they were sown. 



254. The following is the produce : Two hundred and two 

 bushels on sixty-five rod of ground : a crop arising from a mode of 

 cultivation for which, Sir, I feel very much indebted to you. 

 This crop, as you will perceive, wants but two bushels and a 

 fraction of five hundred bushels to the acre : and I verily believe, 

 that, on this mode of cultivation, an acre of land, which will 

 bring a hundred bushels of corn ears, will produce from seven to 

 eight hundred bushels of the Ruta Baga Turnip. 



255. Great numbers of my turnips weigh six pounds each. 

 The greens were almost wholly destroyed by a caterpillar, which I 

 never before saw ; so that I had no opportunity of trying the use 

 cf them as cattle- food ; but, as to the root, cattle and hogs eat it 

 greedily, and cattle as well as hogs eat up the little bits that remain 

 attached to the fibres, when these are cut from the bulbs. 



256. I am now selling these turnips at half a dollar a bushel. 



257. With begging you to accept of my thanks for the useful 

 information, which, in common with many others, I have received 

 from your Treatise on this valuable plant, 



I remain, 



Dear Sir, 

 Your most obedient servant, 



SINGLETON MITCHELL. 

 To Mr. William Cobbett, 

 Hyde Park. 



258. P.S. I am very anxious to see the Second Part of your 

 Year s Residence. When will it be published ? 



ANSWER. 



Hyde Park, gth Dec. 1818. 

 DEAR SIR, 



259. Your letter has given me very great pleasure. You have 

 really tried the thing : you have given it a fair trial. Mr. TULL, 

 when people said of his horse-hoing system, that they had tried 

 it, and found it not to answer, used to reply : &quot; What have they 

 tried ? all lies in the little word IT.&quot; 



260. You have really tried it : and very interesting your account 

 is. It la a complete answer to all those, who talk about loss of 

 ground from four-feet ridges ; and especially when we compare 

 your crop with that of Mr. JAMES BYRD, of Flushing ; whose 

 ground was prepared at an early season ; who manured richly ; 



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