CULTURE OF TURNIP^r C» 



the former, in addition to what has been said, it may be observ- 

 ed, that tke first stage of vegetation should b» forced, by sow- 

 ing the seed immediately on the manure, and then top-dressm^ 

 with lime, plaster, or ashes. The latter are repulsed m a great 

 measure, by means of the hoe, by which the superfluous plants 

 are thinned out, and the earth taken from those left for the 

 crop, leaving the tap root only in the earth. By givmg the full 

 force of the manure immediately to the seed, the rough leaf is 

 thrown out so rapidly, that the fly has little chance to operate ; 

 and by taking the earth from the bulbs, the worm cannot find 

 means to attack it. It is said the best time to put in the seeo © 

 immediately after a shower, and that the seed should follow m:- 

 mediately the spreading of the manure, in the drills, so that it 

 may not have a chance to evaporate or cool. From three pints 

 to two quarts of seed has been thought to be a suitable quanti- 

 ty for an acre. . 



In cold climates, the securing of turnips from frost during the 

 winter, where large quantities are raised, may be thought aa 

 objection to the cultivation of this plant. But those farmers 

 who have made it an important object to feed neat cattle and 

 sheep with them, through the winter months, think the provid- 

 ing proper cellars for the storing them, a necessary item in the 

 expence of a good system of husbandry.* 



If the farmer will compare the quantity of essential aliment 

 contained in turnips, with that of good hay, which may be rais- 

 ed on an acre, he will be better enabled to form a correct opin- 

 ion respecting their relative value, and respecting the expedi- 

 ency of bestowing the extraordinary expence, necessary to cul- 

 tivate the former to advantage. Sixteen hundred bushels, 

 which is not the most abundant crop known to have been raised 

 on an acre, are estin^ated at about forty-seven tons. But let one 

 third of that quantity, or about five hundred bushels, be con- 

 sidered an ordinary crop, equal to about fifteen tons ; an or- 

 dinary crop of hay, say at about two tons, which is however, a 

 large average estimate ; and then compare the relative value 

 and expence of the two crops. 



It is not pretended that this root should be made a substitute 

 for hay, or other dry food, but it seems to have been proved 

 from the actual experiments of the best farmers in our coiin.ry, 

 a very important auxilary in the raising and improving the bree4 

 of our neat cattle and sheep. 



* See essays on neat cattle and sheep. 



H ^ 



