440 THE FARMER AT ilOME. 



cattle. At the present day, however, its merits are generally acknow- 

 ledged, and in some countries it occupies a conspicuous position in 

 every system of husbandry. It must be yet fresh in our minds, how, 

 in the recent dearth in Ireland, the people placed their whole trust 

 upon the success of the turnip crop. 



It has been remarked, that the turnip culture effected a great and| 

 beneficial revolution in English husbandry, as the introduction of the 

 steam engine and spinning jenny effected in British manufactures. 

 This crop has there proved a great source of wealth and fertility. It 

 constitutes by far the greatest material for making beef and mutton, 

 as well as for enriching or keeping up the fertility of the soil. In our 

 own country, the turnip culture has not received the attention its im- 

 portance demands. Those who have made sufficient experiments to 

 testify in regard to its value, speak well of it. Six hundred bushels 

 to the acre is a fair crop of the Swedish turnip Some raise double 

 that quantity. 



TURPENTINE. A resin, flowing either naturally, or in conse- 

 quence of incision, from various sorts of trees ; as the terebinthus, 

 larchj pine, and fir. In medicine, the uses of turpentine are innumer- 

 able. Among many other good offices, it cures wounds, cleanses ulcers, 

 and relieves the lungs . The distilled oil or spirit of turpentine, is 

 also a useful medicine, and, besides., is of great service in various arts. 



TWILIGHT, OR CREPUSCULUM. The time from the first 

 dawn of the morning to the rising of the sun ; and again, between the 

 setting of this luminary, and the last remains of day. It is usually 

 computed to commence and terminate when the sun is about eighteen 

 degrees below the horizon. Without this twilight, the sun's light 

 would appear at its rising, and disappear at its setting, instantaneously ; 

 and we should experience a sudden transition from the brightest sun- 

 shine to the profoundest obscurity. The duration of twilight is different, 

 in different climates ; and in the same place, it varies at different pe- 

 riods of the year. 



ULMIN. A substance obtained from the elm tree, of very singu- 

 lar properties. It resembles gum, but is hard, of a black color, and con- 

 siderably bitter. In its original state, it is soluble in water, and 

 insoluble in alcohol or ether ; but when nitric or oxymuriatic acid is 

 poured into its solution, it changes into a resinous substance no longer 

 soluble in water, but soluble in alcohol. 



UNIVERSAL CULTIVATOR. The Cultivator is a great labor- 

 saving implement, for stirring the earth between the rows of corn and 

 other crops. There are several patterns. What is called the Uni- 

 versal Cultivator, is of recent construction, is longer than those pre- 

 viously used, and entirely of iron, except the centre beam and handles. 

 The side beams are of* wrought iron, and so curved that they are 

 expanded or contracted, by loosening the iron key that confines the 

 teeth in their place. They are each moved forward or back, to a 



