144 Cultivation of Arable Land. Turnips dfier-culture Hoeing, 



former mode the expence of the two hand-hoeings arc generally from fix to 

 right or nine {hillings the acre; while in the latter it rarely amounts to more 

 than four or five, Befides, by the ufe of the herfe-hoe or plough in the inter 

 vals, the crops are not only kept more clean, but a more continued and more 

 abundant fupply of nourifhment provided for the growth of the plants, on 

 account of the repeated full aeration of the mould that muft take place. 



In performing the turnip culture in this way, many different implements 

 have been recommended by different cultivators ; but it would feem that the 

 operation may be accomplimed with fufficient exactnefs by any fmall light 

 plough. In many diftricts, the hoe- plough is employed in this bulinefs with 

 fuccefs. The Northumberland farmers chiefly make ufe of a fmall light plough, 

 about five inches in width at the bottom behind and eleven at the top, which is 

 drawn by a fingle horfe, for the purpofe of ploughing the intervals between 

 the rows, which is found to anfwer extremely well ; but Dr. Anderfon con 

 tends that the work may be performed in the moft perfect manner by the com 

 mon light fwing-plough. Jn earthing up the rows, the double-mould-boarded 

 plough may, however, be probably more expeditious and convenient. Im 

 proved double ploughs of this fort have been contrived for the purpofe of clean 

 ing turnip crops, and are fa id to be employed with confiderable fuccefs and ad 

 vantage; as by their capability of being readily fet to different diftances, fo as 

 to fuit the different widths of the rows, they not only perform the bulinefs of 

 removing or paring off the earth from both fides of the rows at the fame time, 

 but by neing brought clofe together effect the operation of earthing up the 

 plants. In conducting the procefs with this implement, there is obvioufly not 

 only an advantage in double the quantity of work being performed, but the opera 

 tions are accomplimed with more correctnefs, both in refpect to the ftirring of 

 the earth in the intervals of the drills and the application of the mould to the 

 Hems of the young plants.* 



Others, however, contend that thefe advantages may be equally attained by 

 performing the bufinefs in a particular method by means of a fingle-mould- 

 hoarded paring- plough, drawn by one horfe, while the danger and inconve 

 nience of being obftructed by ftones or other matters is lelTened or wholly re 

 moved. This is that of paring only one fide of the ridge at a time, leaving the 

 other to be performed fome days afterwards. After the turnip plants have 

 been properly fet out, the work is faid to be begun and conducted in this manner ; 



* Farmers Magazine, vol.1, p. 413. 



