120 RUTA BAGA CULTURE. [PART I. 



of any fine large turnip will extend more than 

 six feet from the bulb of the plant. The inter 

 vals are full of these roots, the breaking of 

 which and the moving of which, as in the case 

 of Indian Corn, gives new food and new roots, 

 and produces wonderful effects on the plants. 

 Wide as my intervals were, the leaves of some 

 of the plants very nearly touched those of the 

 plants on the adjoining ridge, before the end of 

 their growth ; and I have had them frequently 

 meet in this way in England. They would 

 always do it here, if the ground were rich and 

 the tillage proper. How, then, can the inter 

 vals be too wide, if the plants occupy the in 

 terval? And how can any ground be lost if 

 every inch be full of roots and shaded by 

 leaves ? 



62. After the last-mentioned operation my 

 plants remained till the weeds had again made 

 their appearance ; or, rather, till a new brood 

 had started up. When this was the case, we 

 went with the hoe again and cleaned the tops of 

 the ridges as before. The weeds under this all- 

 powerful sun, instantly perish. Then we re 

 peated the former operation with the one-horse 

 plough. After this nothing was done but to 

 pijll up now and then a weed, which had 

 escaped the hoe; for, as to ,the plough-share, 

 nothing escapes that. 



63. Now, I think, no farmer can discover in 



