110 RUTA BAGA CULTURE. [PART L 



the 9th of July, I would by no means recom 

 mend any farmer, who can sow sooner, to de 

 fer the business to that time ; for, I am of opi 

 nion with the old folk in the West of England, 

 that God is almost always on the side of early 

 farmers. Besides, one delay too often produces 

 another delay ; and he who puts off to the 9th, 

 may put off to the 19th. 



44. The crops, in small plots, which I sowed 

 after the 9th of July to the 30th of that month, 

 grew very well ; but they regularly succeeded 

 each other in diminution of size; and, which is 

 a great matter, the cold weather overtook them 

 before they were ripq; and ripeness is full as- 

 necessary in the case of roots as in the case of 

 apples or of peaches. 



Quality and Preparation of the Seed. 



45. As a fine, rich, loose garden mould, of 

 great depth, and having a porous stratum under 

 it, is best for every thing that vegetates, except 

 plants that live best in water, so it is best for 

 the Ruta Baga. But, I know of no soil in the 

 United States, in which this root may not be 

 cultivated with the greatest facility. A pure 

 sand, or a very stiff clay, would not do well 

 certainly ; but I have never seen any of either 

 in America. The soil that I cultivate is poor, 

 almost proverbially ; but, what it really is, i& 

 this : it is a light loam, approaching towards 



