Cultivation of Arabic Land TtirmpsPrepara tfan proper for* 12T 



ful culture of this ufeful root upon lands that differ greatly in their qualities, thai. 

 it admits of more latitude in regard to foil than many other plants, though the 

 opinion feems to have been too general among farmers, that it is o I/ capable 

 of being introduced with benefit on fuch as are of a very light and friable texture. 

 This has probably had confiderable influence in preventing the cultivation of the 

 turnip root from becoming fo general, as from its great utility and importance it 

 ought to have been at this period. 



But though the turnip may be grown to advantage on foils that vary in a 

 confiderable degree in refpect to their natural friability and competition, it is con* 

 ftantly neceffary to the healthy vegetation and fuccefs of the crop, that at leaft the 

 more fuperficial parts of the land, or the bed in which the feed is to be depofited, 

 be brought into as fine a ftate of reduction or pulverifation as poflible ; as more is 

 found from experience to depend upon this being effectually performed, than even 

 on the richnefsof the foil.* This is ufeful in different ways : as, by its promot 

 ing the growth of the fmall feed weeds, they are capable of being more perfectly 

 eradicated, and the young turnip plants of courfc lefs endangered by them i while 

 at the fame time, a more fine and mellow bed is provided for the reception of the 

 feed, and its vegetation rendered more quick and vigorous in confequence of the 

 more equal diffufion of moifture that muft thus take place. In order fully to effect 

 thefe objedts, it is the practice in thofe diftricts where the turnip hufbandry is 

 carried on in the mod complete and fuccefsful manner, when the feed is put in 

 on a fallow, to have recourfe to four, and frequently five, ploughings, hav 

 ing the cloddy parts of the land well broken down in the intervals, by harrowing 

 in different directions and the occafional ufe of the roller, as by thefe means almoft 

 every particle of the foil becomes expofed to the influence of the atmofphere, and is 

 perfectly aerated and faturated with moifture. The firft earth being given to 

 wards the clofe of the year in a mallow manner, foas merely to fkim off the rough 

 furface, it may then remain in this fituation till about March, when it mould be 

 well reduced by harrowing and crofs-ploughed to the full depth. If weedy, it is 

 to be again broken down by the harrow in the courfe of about a fortnight; but, 

 when clean, it is better to remain in its rough ftate. It may then be left in this 

 condition till about the middle of May, when it mould have another ploughing to 

 the full depth ; and, when the feafon is dry, and the foil of the more ftiffkind, im 

 mediately harrowed, but where it is light this may be deferred for a week or more. 

 Thefe repeated operations, when well performed, generally bring the land into a per 

 fectly fine and clean condition j but if that be not the cafe, more muft be had recourfr 



* Modern Agriculture, vol. II. 



