Ch. XVIII-l; ON TURNIPS. 231 



ture also, as directed by Cobbett, though certainly expensive, is yet such as 

 completely to replace a summer fallow, and it is used in the best cultivated 

 parts of Italy as a preparatory crop for wheat.* It is there, however, and 

 in many other parts of the continent, sown along with intermediate crops 

 which are planted between the rows ; but, from what we have here seen of 

 the practice, we cannot recommend it, for it is destructive of the tillage upon 

 whicli the cleanness of the land and the success of both that and the future 

 crops mainly depends. In southern climates, these double crops are, in- 

 deed, off the ground so early as not to interfere materially wiih the cultiva- 

 tion of the Indian corn ; and in this country, perhaps early potatoes, or 

 podded peas, might be grown in like manner : but, in that case, the corn 

 should be sown in rows at a wider distance apart. Trials should be made 

 of it, upon a small scale, in various times and modes of sowing, so as to 

 ascertain the best season and the most profitable mode of culture ; for, if 

 it can be counted upon as forming one among a regular rotation of crops, 

 it must j)rove a very valuable acquisition to our husbandry. 



In point of climate, we think the experiments which have been already 

 made leave no doubt that the plant, when attentively cultivated, may be 

 brought to succeed in our southern and midland counties — particularly 

 when the seed shall have been naturalized by being repeatedly grown in this 

 country ; but we have no idea that it can ever be extended very far north ; 

 and we question whether the humidity of Ireland will not prevent it from 

 being advantageously introduced into that island. 



Chapter XVIII. 

 ON TURNIPS. 



It would have been perhaps more consistent with due order in the arrange- 

 ment of a work on husbandry, to have commenced with the cultivation of 

 turnips, — as the foundation of our alternate system of tillage, — rather than 

 with the growth of corn ; and, had we undertaken to direct the practical 

 management of any one farm, we should have adopted that plan. It 

 should, however, be borne in mind, that, although we furnish the best 

 details with which we are acquainted regarding the culture of crops, yet 

 we only profess to treat of them separately ; leaving our readers to judge 

 for themselves, of the best course of cropping, according to the peculiar 

 nature of their land. 



The introduction into this country of turnips as field-crops — which is 

 supposed to have taken place in the county of Norfolk, nearly two 

 centuries ago, and which afterwards spread gradually over the kingdom, — 

 has contributed more than any other improvement in rural economy to the 

 advancement of our agriculture. Before their adoption, it was, indeed, 

 difficult to manage light soils to any advantage ; for they were soon ex- 

 hausted by the rej)eated produclion of corn, and as no regular rotation of 

 green crops was then known, they were necessarily thrown for a series of 

 years into pasture to recruit. It was also so difficult to support the stock 

 upon a farm throughout the winter, that the fatting of cattle for market 

 during tliat season could only be effected with hay, and it was, therefore, 

 customary among country families, to slaughter a number proportionate to 

 * Pictet, sur I'ltalie, 2de edit., p, 398. 



