Calthation of Arable Land. Turnips Methods of f owing of. 133 



In general, Jvwever, the carly-fown crops of turnips are not only lefs fweet 

 and nutritious, but more expofed to injury from mildew and other caufes, than 

 thofe that ate put in later; but, notwithftanding this, the fowing fhould not be 

 deferred fo long as that the plants cannot have time to cover and fix themfelves 

 well in the foil before their growth is retrained by the coldnefs ot the autumn 

 and winter feafons. 



There a re different methods pracYifed of putting this fort of crop into the foil in 

 different diftrids ; in moft of the fouthern counties it is the more general practice 

 to fow turnips in the broadcaft manner on the level furface ; while in the northern 

 parts of the ifland, where this fort of hufbandry has been confiderably improved. 

 it is the more ufual method to employ the drill machine, depofiting the feed in 

 rows, either on ridges formed by one bout of the plough, or on the level furface ; 

 at the diftances of from twenty-four to thirty inches in the ridge method, according 

 to the circumftances of the foil and the intentions of the cultivator, and from ten to 

 twelve or thirteen when on the plain furface. 



It is probable that both thefe methods may be had recourfe to with advantage 

 under different circumftances of the land. On the very light, deep, fandy, or gra 

 velly foils, ihat are apt to part with their moifture quickly, and of courfe become 

 ton dry and parched for the healthy growth of the turnip plant, it may be the 

 moft fucctfsful practice to put the feed in in the broadcaft method on the level fur- 

 face, as by iuch rrua is the neceffary pr portion of moifture may be better preferved 

 for the fupply of the crop. 



But where the foils are of a rather more heavy quality, and not fo liable to pnrt 

 with their moifture, the ridged drill method, by the pulverifation which it affords, 

 as well as its tendency to preferve the plants from being injured by the ftagnation 

 of too much moifture about their roots, maybe the moft proper and ufeful. And 

 befides being more beneficial in thefe ways, it poffcffes ad vantages in other refp-cTis ; 

 as on the thinner-ftapled foils the turnip, on account of its long tap-root moftly re 

 quiring a depth of mould of ten or twelve inches, can fcldom be grown in a perfect 

 manner. The ridging up of the land may be of utility in providing a more fuitable 

 depth of cultivated foil, and better bed for the reception of the feed, the operation 

 having been found to more than double the ordinary depth of mould of fuch grounds. 

 It may likewife be added, that the manure.from its being merely confined to the rid 

 ges, is lefs expofed to the weather,and need not be employed in fo large proportion, 

 conff quently a greater extent of land be converted to the production of this crop ; 

 while, by its concentration, and the feed being placed immediately upon it, the 

 nourimnru m and fupport of the crop may be more effectually promoted, and a lar 

 ger produce afforded : and for the purpofe of early fowing, and being eaten off in. 



