J86 Cultivation of Arable, Land Turnip-rooted Cabbage Time of fowing. 



The moft fuitable foils for the growth of this fort of vegetable are thofe of the 

 more friable loamy kinds, or fuch as have been formed by the gradual depofition 

 of earthy matters from the overflowings of large rivers or the fea. But of whatever 

 kind the foil may be, the particles of it mould have been well broken down and re 

 duced by means of tillage, and not be too retentive of moifture, when plants of 

 this fort are cultivated upon it. 



In preparing the land for the crop it will therefore be neceflary to have it 

 brought into a confiderable fUte of puiverifation or finenefs, by repeated plough- 

 ings, and the pafiing of harrows over it ; and alfo enriched by the application of 

 manure, in the proportion of eight or ten waggon loads to the ftatute acre, which 

 iliould be turned in with the laft ploughing in forming the one-bout ridges for 

 the reception of the plants. This is fometimes performed by the common plough, 

 but it may probably be executed with more exactnefs by one with a double mould- 

 board. 



Seed. This is to be conftantly collected from the bed and moft perfect 

 plants of the kind, in the manner that has been already directed for the com 

 mon cabbage. It fhould likewife be employed while it is perfectly frem, as 

 fuch feed as has been kept for fome length of time feldom comes up well, or with 

 much regularity. But where it is necefTary to make ufe of it, the belt method 

 is to deep it in water for a few hours before it is fown. 



Time offowing. This is to be performed fooner or later, according to the in 

 tentions of the cultivator in refpect to the confumption of the crop, but for the 

 fummer planting, the beft time may be about the latter end of March, or begin 

 ning of April. For this purpofe a piece of ground fhould be prepared by re 

 peated turning over during the winter, fo as to become perfectly fine and 

 free from weeds. This muft now be covered over by fome well-reduced farm 

 yard manure, adding a little frelh horfe-dung from the ftable. This is then to 

 be turned lightly in by means of the fpade or plough, and a fuitable proportion 

 ef feed fown over the whole, being covered in by means of a ftrong rake or light 

 harrow.* As the plants rife, attention is to be paid to the fly, guarding againft 

 its attacks by the ufe of wood-ames or foot, when it firft appears. 



When the plants are found to grow too faft or advance too high in the ftems be 

 fore the period of fetting them out in the field, fo as to attain an improper fhape 



Where this fort of preparation has not been made, a piece of old grafs land, reduced by paring and 

 burning, may (Mr. Tugwell, an experienced cultivator, obferves) be drefied in a fimilar manner ; or 

 the fubfoil of a wiater iheep-fold, the ftraw, dung, and thin turfy material, having been previoufly 

 temovedv 



