CULTURE OF TURNIPS. , Wt 



Some farmers who have made the culture of turnips an im- 

 portant branch of field husbandry in this country, give a decid- 

 ed preference to the drill husbandry in their cultivation. One 

 farmer in the state of New- York, who has succeeded in raising 

 vast quantities of this root, has practiced the following mode : 

 After the manure is spread on the surface, to plough it in about 

 the 12th of June, and then to harrow it smooth. After this ie 

 done to plough it into ridges, about 30 inches apart, and not 

 wider than three feet ; and then to sow on the ridges with a 

 drill harrow ; and as soon as the turnips are in the rough leaf, 

 to separate them v/ith hoes to about the distance of from four to 

 eight inches, according" to the species of the turnip, the larger 

 sort requiring more room to spread; (killing at the same time 

 all the weeds on the top of the ridges." When the turnips have 

 become well fixed again, as many must be loosened in this op- 

 eratioD, and the sides of those ridges covered with weeds, to 

 introduce a small plough, and take a slice from both sides of 

 every ridge close to the turnips ; these slices of course fall into 

 the farrow, carrying the weeds which grew on their sides. A 

 day or two after, another plough, w4th a double mould board, is 

 introduced into the furrow, and sweeps back the mould to its 

 place. This operation may be repeated as often as weeds ap^ 

 pear; but if it is effectually done once, it will not be wanted a- 

 gain. 



This farmer, * in the year 1822, when he gave this account, 

 raised of the Swedish turnip, or ruta baga, on one acre, one 

 thousand and ninety-six bushels; and of the white globe tur- 

 nip, on an acre, eleven hundred and forty-three bushels ; f and 

 he observes, that no crop can be more valuable than turnips. 

 The thinning and weeding process, mentioned above, is consid- 

 ered an essential measure in the culture of turnips ; and one 

 would suppose the prejudices which may exist against it, on 

 account of the extraordinary labor it requires, should be re- 

 moved, froai the consideration of the value of the erop which it 

 produces. Another objection to making the culture of turnips 

 an important object, may arise from the expence of harvesting 

 and storing an article which requires so much room secure from 

 frost. As the manner in which sa greai a crop is secured, 

 seems to be connected with its utility, it may be interesting to 

 state the manner in which this crop was harvested and secured, 

 taken from the farmer's own account, who raised the crop, 



*Mr. Fealherstonau^h, of Duanesburg;, State New- York, 

 t Upwards of two thousand bushels to the acre have been krIs- 

 od in Great Britain, 



