ROOTS* 149 



quantity of seed will suffice. A turnep drill will speedily ac- 

 complish the furrowing, sowing, covering and rolling at a 

 single operation. The crop will be materially assisted by a 

 top dressing of lime, ashes and plaster, at the rate of 15 or 

 20 bushels of the iirst, half the quantity of the second, and 3 

 or 4 bushels of the last, per acre. When the plants show 

 themselves and the leaves are partially expanded, the culti- 

 vator or hoe may be freely used, stirring the ground well and 

 exterminating all weeds. 



RUTA-BAGA OK SWEDES TURNEP. The introduction of 

 this is comparatively recent, and it proves to be more worthy 

 of attention than the English or white turnep. It will bear a 

 heavier soil, yield as well, give a richer root, and it has the 

 great advantage of keeping longer in good condition, thus 

 prolonging the winter food of cattle when they most need it. 



CULTIVATION^ It is usually planted after wheat or corn, 

 but if a fresh virgin soil or old pasture sod is chosen, it will 

 materially lessen its liability to insects and other enemies. 

 It is generally sown in drills about 2 feet apart, and on heavy 

 lands these should be slightly ridged. The plants must be 

 successively thinned to prevent interfering with such as are 

 intended to mature, but enough should remain to provide for 

 casualties. Where there is a deficiency they may be sup- 

 plied by transplanting during showery weather. They 

 should be left 6 or 8 inches apart in the drills. The Swede 

 turnep is a gross feeder and requires either a rich soil or heavy 

 manuring, though the use of fresh manures has been supposed 

 to facilitate the multiplication of enemies. Bones ground 

 and drilled in with the seed, or a dressing of lime, ashes, 

 gypsum and salt are the best applications that can be made. 

 The Swede should be sown from about the 20th May to the 

 15th June, earlier than the English turnep, as it takes longer 

 to mature, and 2 or 3 weeks more of growth frequently adds 

 largely to the product. An early sowing also gives time to 

 raise another crop in case of failure of the first. 



ENEMIES. The turnep is exposed to numerous depredators, 

 of which the turnep flea-beetle is the most inveterate. It 

 attacks the plant as soon as the first leaves expand and often 

 destroys 2 or 3 successive sowings. The black catterpillar, 

 slugs, wire-worms, and numerous other insects, grubs and 

 aphides prey upon and greatly diminish the crop. 



REMEDIES have been tried to an almost indefinite extent, 

 but none hitherto with more than very partial success. Lib- 

 eral sowing and rapid growth best insures the plant from in- 



