Cultivation of Arable Land. lurnips &quot;Application of Crops of* )59 



this machine are cut by means of a knife fixed on the fly whcef a, being brought 

 to it through the inclined trough or box b. 



In the con fuming of turnips by fheep, which, where the mod valuable breed* 

 are introduced, is the mod extenfive application of fuch crops, the moil general 

 practice, where the lands are light and fufficiently dry, is that of confining them 

 upon a fuitable proportion of the crop, by means of nets or hurdles, removing 

 them to frefli portions or breaks every eight or ten days, or oftener, according to 

 -circumftances ; but if the grounds be of the more heavy kind and fomewhat reten 

 tive of moifture, it is a better and more economical method to have the turnips 

 conveyed off the land to fome neighbouring field, as has been already noticed, as 

 by this mode there is not only lefs injury and wade, by the treading of the turnips 

 into the ground, but the fheep get a more regular fupply of frefh food, and the 

 fhells, by being left clean, are more completely eaten up by the (lore cattle that 

 are to follow.* 



In performing of this bufinefs the drills mould be fo contrived that the wheels 

 and horfes may pafs in the furrows, and by that means prevent poaching. 



Where the cuftom of eating on the ground is employed, it is alfo fometimes, as 

 when the land is poor, a practice to draw every other ridge of turnips, and remove 

 them from the field to be eaten in another place, while the remainder is confumed 

 upon the land on which they grew.j- 



In folding upon turnips it is moftly the cuftom to turn the ihecp upon them 

 while danding in the field ; but, except where the bulbs are much expofed above 

 the furfaceof the land, it is probably a much better practice to have them drawn 

 up before the hurdles are fixed or the fheep turned in, as the animals are not only 

 lefs apt to break and foil the turnips, but feed much better upon them. This is a 

 method of proceeding not unfrequently had recourfe to in the county of Norfolk. J 



Whatever method may be adopted in fixing the hurdles, attention mould be paid 

 to fet them in fuch directions as that expence and labour may be faved as much as 

 poffible. 



It has been fuggefted by a late writer, that much lofs is often fuftained in 

 thefe modes of folding fheep upon turnips, efpecially where they are cultivated 

 under the broadcaft fyflem, and it is the cuftom to give the fheep large folds or 

 breaks at a time, from the occurrence of froft and fnow. In fuch cafes he 



* Corrected Agricultural Report of Northumberland. 

 + Ibid, and Corrected Agricultural Report of Norfolk* 

 % Modern Agriculture, vol. II. p. 3l6. 



