184 Cultivation of Arable Land. Turnip-Cabbage After-culture of. 



fhowcr of rain, the operations of ploughing and letting out the plants proceeding 

 together; but neither operation fhould be attempted when the land is much foak- 

 cd with the rain, as much injury is not only done to the land, but the plants 

 feldom thrive well.* In planting out different diftances are practifed, fome pre 

 ferring the diflance of two feet from row to row, and eighteen inches ap;irt in the 

 rows where the foils are good, but in thofe of interior quality, not more than 

 twelve;-)- while others advife their being planted two and a half or three f et afun- 

 der on tw r o-bout ridges } | the plants being placed as nearly as pofliblein the middle, 

 immediately upon the dung, as has been recommended for cabbages. 



After-culture. This buiinefs mud be performed in different ways, according 

 to the methods of lowing or planting that have been pradlifed. When the feed is 

 put in by the hand, the crop can only be kept clean by means of the hand-hoe, 

 which fnould be applied as frequently as is neceffary for the purpofe. 



In the drill mode, as well as where the crop is planted out with broad intervals, 

 and narrow diftances in the rows, it may be convenient to make ufe of both the 

 plough or horfe-hoe and the hand hoe, employing ihe former in ftirring and 

 clearing the intervals, and the latter in keeping the ground between the plants 

 clean. When the crop is planted on ridges, it is recommended, that as foon as the 

 plants have become firmly eftablifhed in the foil, and weeds begin to appear, to 

 throw a furrow from each fide of them by means of a fmall plough that is narrow 

 behind, ftirring the parts not thus moved by the hand-hoe ; and after the decay of 

 the weeds thus turned down, but before the plants get too large, to return them 

 to their former fituation, care being taken not to cover the hearts of the plants with 

 the earth. Thefe operations may be repeated as frequently as the ftate of the crop 

 may require. 



It may be neceflary to obferve, that in the after-culture of this plant, as it 

 forms its bulb above the furface of the ground, the earth or mould mould never 

 be laid up fo much to the roots of the plants as in the common cabbage, as it 

 may contribute not only to prevent the fwelling of the bulbs, but promote their 

 deftrudion. 



In dry feafons this plant may probably be cultivated with greater advantage 

 than that of the turnip, as not being fubjecl: to the deftructive attacks of the fly, 

 and being lefs expofed to danger from other animals that are liable to deftroy 

 crops of that fort. When iituated clofe to turnips that have been almoft wholly 

 devoured by the fly, we have never perceived that plants of this kind were in the 

 lead touched by it. 



* Bath Papers, vol.- IX. t Miller s Diftionary, art. Brassicce. J Bath Papers, vol. IX. 



