86 AGRICULTURAL ESSAYS. 



tantpart of the physical strength of our country, purchase their 

 bread corn, for which they have to pay in their services only. 

 The price of those services is not always enhanced in propor- 

 tion to that of grain or butchery's meat. It should be a predom- 

 inent object in the policy of our country, not to attempt the ad- 

 vancement of its general interests by 'means, which, in their 

 •peration, tend to depress the condition of the poorer class of 

 «itizens. 



Culture qf Turnips. 



The culture of the turnip has, in England, been long con- 

 sidered a profitable part of field husbandry, though it has been 

 in some degree superceded by that of carrots, which has been 

 thought more profitable. 



The raising of turnips is there considered not only an impor- 

 tant object for the purposes of winter food for cattle, but also to 

 improve and prepare the soil for other crops. It is said by the 

 greatest authorities on English agriculture, that the introduc- 

 tion of turnips into the husbandry of Great Britain, occasioned 

 one of those revolutions in the rural art, which are constantly 

 occurring among husbandmen ; and though the revolution came 

 on with slow and gradual steps, yet it may now be viewed as 

 completely established. 



There are tkree kinds of turnips : the flat or round sort, 

 which are in most common use in this country ; also, the long 

 and French turnip. Of the former, there are the green topped, 

 the red purple, the yellow, and the early Dutch turnip. The 

 last are sown early in the spring, for a supply of the market 

 during the summer season. The green topped are considered 

 the most profitable, and are raised for winter use. For raising 

 them on a small scale, the following method has been found to 

 succeed well : Turn over a turf of old sward the first week in 

 June. Yard cattle on this, in the proportion of six head at least, 

 to a quarter of an acre, until the 20th of July ; then harrow 

 lengthwise of the furrows, so as not to disturb or overturn them, 

 and sow in the proportion of about half a pound of seed to the 

 acre. If not convenient to yard cattle upon it suflSciently, a- 

 bout two inches of well rotted manure, harrowed in as abovCi 

 win do for a a.ubstitute. 



