124 YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 



which it is subjected by culture, and though they have been 

 long known, it is but recently that they have acquired any 

 importance as farm crops. Hence we may anticipate a high 

 degree of improvement in the future. While the average of 

 the turnip crop of the State of New York is shown by Mr. 

 Randall to be only 88 bushels per acre, this is far below the 

 capacity of the soil as is proved by the reported premium crops, 

 reaching, in one instance, as high as 2,102 bushels per acre. 

 The details of management in the case of this crop were given, 

 in the language of the cultivator, J. T. Andrew, of West 

 Cornwall, Conn., to show what results may be attained by 

 skilful culture. New land produces the best turnips for all 

 purposes, especially for table use. Sow white turnips in drills, 

 or broadcast, the latter part of July ; ruta-bagas the last of 

 June, in drills, twenty-five to thirty inches apart. Quantity of 

 seed, one pound per acre. The most thorough preparation of 

 the soil by deep and careful plowing, and early and repeated 

 tillage by the horse- and hand-hoes, are necessary in the highest 

 degree in this and all the other root-crops. The ruta-baga is a 

 gross feeder, and requires an abundance of manure either in a 

 raw state or fermented. This may be applied broadcast, or 

 under the drills. Bones and super-phosphates are considered 

 essentials to turnip culture in England. My experiments with 

 them have proved quite undecisive as to their value here. 

 Early thinning to a distance of twelve inches in the row is re 

 quired for the largest produce. If sown late, for table use, 

 they may stand much closer. 



The beet in the form of the sugar beet in France and Ger 

 many, and the mangold wurtzel in Great Britain, is taking a 

 position of more importance than even the turnip. It requires 

 much the same culture as the ruta-baga, while the greater 

 yield of the mangold, its freedom from disease and the attacks 

 of insects, and its superior keeping qualities, render it a gen 

 eral favorite, while its fitness for enduring heat and drouth 

 especially adapt it to our wants. The quantity of seed varies 



