AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



other. \Ve must refer our readers to works especially upon the 

 ubject, merely laying down the following principles. 



( aj The soil for this crop should be light, rich, thoroughly 

 plowed, and pulverized. Fair crops may be raised on some 

 clay soils, but they require more labor to put them in a proper 

 condition. No crop demands more thorough tillage previous 

 to the sowing. 



(b,) Drilling the seed, at 20 to 24 inches, the distance of the 

 rows, instead of broadcasting, saves much after labor. 



(c t ) The land must be kept perfectly clean, and often stirred 

 with the hoe. 



(d,) The manures requisite are those which will supply nitro 

 gen, and the peculiar inorganic constituents. Supposing the soil 

 to be in a fair average condition, the following may be applied : 

 1. Super phosphate of lime ; 2. Ground bones, in various states 

 of preparation; 3. Guano; 4. Barnyard manure, or compost; 

 5. Common salt; 6. Wood ashes; 7. Lime; 8. Plaster. In 

 rich English soils, guano, bones, and ashes, are usually consider 

 ed sufficient. 



(e^) It is exceedingly important that the young plant should 

 be rapidly forced into the &quot; rough leaf.&quot; Previous to this, it is 

 ubject to the attacks of several insects ; and its future prosperity 

 appears to depend on the early rapidity of growth. 



448. In the United States, turnips are usually grown as a 

 second crop in the fall, being sown in New York and Michigan 

 from the end of July to the 1 2th of August. The Swedes re 

 quire the longest period of growth. If sown broadcast, a quart 

 of seed, if by drill, a pint is sufficient. The harvesting must be 

 performed before hard frosts set in. The roots are pulled by 

 hand, laid on the ground, the tops of the two rows facing each 

 other. A man follows with a bill hook, and separates the tops 

 from the roots. Three men will harvest 300 bushels a day. 

 The tops are taken to the barn yard for the cattle. The best 

 mode of storing is in root-cellars, with straw ; but hills or pits 



