TURNIF. 293 



tion, either alone or mixed with a little sand ; but, in the 

 hot weather of summer, it is advisable to use some cheap 

 and effectual preventive of the fly. It appearr from a trial 

 of Knight, at the suggestion of Sir Humphrey Davy, that 

 lime slaked with urine, and mixed with a treble quantity 

 of soot, if sprinkled in with the seed at the time of sowing, 

 will protect the seeds and germs from the ravages of this 

 pernicious insect ; but this antidote cannot be conveniently 

 applied unless the sowing be in drills. A yet simpler 

 emedy, found by Mean to be perfectly successful, is, to 

 steep the seed in sulphur-water, putting an ounce of sul- 

 phur to a pint of water, which will be sufficient for soaking 

 about three pounds of seed." Abercrombie, 



The method of sowing is either broad-cast or in drills. 

 In the former mode, Abercrombie directs to allow half an 

 ounce of seed for every one hundred square feet. Deane 

 says, the quantity of seed for an acre is never less than one 

 pound more frequently a pound and a half, and sometimes 

 two. In sowing by broad-cast, the seed may be covered by 

 drawing a " light harrow backward, that is, wrong end 

 foremost, to prevent the tines, which are generally set some- 

 what pointed forward, from tearing up the sods, and bury- 

 ing the seed too deep." If sowed in rows, the drills may 

 be an inch deep, and twelve or fifteen inches asunder. 



Subsequent culture. As soon as the plants have rough 

 leaves, about an inch broad, hoe and thin them to six or 

 eight inches' distance, cutting up all weeds. As the tur- 

 nips increase in the root, a part may be drawn young, by 

 progressive thinnings, so as to leave those designed to reach 

 a full size ultimately ten or twelve inches apart. 



Taking and preserving the crop. In England they feed 

 the turnips off the ground with sheep, or draw them up for 

 neat cattle, through the winter, as they are wanted ; but, 

 in this country, they must be harvested in autumn, about 

 the end of October, or even earlier in some seasons and 

 places, and stored and saved, as directed for preserving 

 other roots. See page 50. 



To save seed. " Some of the best roots of the middling 

 size should be planted early in the spring, in a good spot, 

 free from shade. They should be in rows, eighteen inches 

 asunder, and the ground must be kept clear of weeds till 

 the seed is ripe. Stakes and laths may be needful round 

 the outside, to keep the branches from falling to the ground 

 before the seed is fully ripe." Deane. " It is preferable, 

 however, to procure turnip-seed, as indeed that of mosi 

 25* 



