242 BRITISH HUSBANDRY. [Ch. XVIII. 



of nutritive matter — being full 6 per cent., and in the larsfest roots, nearly 

 7 per cent, of their whole weight ; while the white varieties have afforded 

 4 per cent., and in the largest roots, only 3^ per cent, of their whole 

 weight. This nearly accords with the experiments of Sir Humphry Davy; 

 which showed that Swedish turnips yielded 64-, and common turnips only 

 42 parts of nutritive matter, in 1000 parts of vegetable substance contained 

 in the roots : hence, one pound of Swedes should be equal to one and a 

 half of the same weight. 



The quantity of nutritive matter, and the average produce on a good 

 soil, per acre, are also calculated, in the same publication as follows : — 

 namely — 



Swedish Turnip . 



Green-top Yellow ditto 

 White Globe ditto 



The relative portion of nutriment afforded by each of the following species 

 has, however, been estimated by the late Mr. George Sinclair, as amount- 

 ing, in 64 drachms, to — 



White Tankard . . 76 grains Norfolk white . 83 grains 



Common white loaf . 80 „ Stone, or garden . 85 „ 



and Swedish turnips . . 110 grains: 



according to which the Swedes would furnish 1 cwt. 1 qr. per ton. While 

 the largest roots of that species produced 110 grains, the small ones how- 

 ever only yielded 99 ; and the common white loaf variety, measuring 7 

 inches in diameter, gave only 72 J grains, while the same quantity of a 

 root measuring only 4 inches, afforded 80*. 



DISEASES. 



Turnips are subject to many injuries, arising from mildew, rotting with 

 frost, and the destruction of insects. Among the distempers to which they 

 are liable are those termed the " anbury," and " fingers and toes ;" the 

 former appearing soon after the formation of the apple in the shape of 

 large uncouth tumours, which form themselves below tlie bulbs ; and in the 

 latter, the root, instead of swelling, runs into those small divisions from 

 which it takes its name, a large portion of the surflice usually wanting the 

 natural skin, being tinged of a dirty blue colour, and finally becoming 

 rotten. They are indeed frequently confounded together, and are generally 

 attributed to internal disease, either owing to some defect in the seed, or in 

 the quality of the soil and manure, or else to the time of sowing; though it 

 would appear, from more recent investigation, that they arise from insects, 

 the excrescences being thought to be the nidus of one species, and the 

 destruction of the root being caused by anothert . Farmers generally sup- 

 pose them to be occasioned by the too frequent cultivation of turnips on 

 the same land ; but the malady has been found to exist in ground which 

 had been newly broken up |, and no mode of either prevention or remedy 

 is known. 



Another malady, called the " black canker," arises from a species of 

 slug, or caterpillar, which commits great devastations among- the turnips 

 when the plants are in rough- leaf and have partly formed their tops. The 



* See the Horlus Gramineus JVobernensis, and the ' Complete Grazier,' 6th edit.) 

 p. 533. 



fSee several treatises on the suhject in the Transactions of the Highland Socict)-, / 



vols, viii., and N. S. ii. ; as well as, '• Ohservations on Ihe Disease in Turnips termed J 



Fingers and Toes," by William Spence, F.L.S. ' 



X Lincoln Report, 2nd edit. p. 161. 



