FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 387 



culture, for the purpose of feeding and fating cattle. They 

 are not so nourishing, nor so good for feeding Milch-cows, 

 as some other roots; but their abundant yield, and the ease 

 with which they are cultivated, on light soils would seem to 

 entitle them to a preference for cultivation in most cases. 



Sandy and sandy loam soils, where they are suffi icntly 

 manured, are considered as best adapted to their growth; 

 but they may be successtuliy cultivated in any rich, dry, 

 mUlow soil. Clays are unsuitable for them. The easterly 

 parts of Virginia and North Carolina offer many millions of 

 acres of soli, admirably calculated tor their culture ; and 

 perhaps the climate there will be found best adapted for 

 them. 



The common white turnips require to be fed out before 

 they grow spongey ; but, as ru a baga are as good for 

 Spring-teed as at any other time, they are well adapted for 

 a supply, after the stock of those first- mentioned are ex- 

 hausied. 



We perceive, by a publication ot Mr. Cobbett^ that, dur- 

 ing the last season, he raised six hundred and torty bushels 

 of ruta-baga on an acre ot ground, on L >ugisland, in a soil 

 much exhausted, with the aid ot but very -little manure; 

 and that he confidently expects to be able to raise eight 

 hundred bushels to the acre, the ensuing season. Some of 

 these turnips, he says, weighed ten pounds, and many of 

 them seven and eight. 



The largest growths of them are always the most solid, 

 and best for culinary or other purposes. Tney may be kept 

 sound and free from that spongmess which soon affects the 

 ommon white sorts, and for this reason are excelent for 

 taking to sea on long voyages. The nutriment they afford 

 is about the same as that of the others, while fresh ; and 

 while either kind remain in this state they are sufficient for 

 the purpose of fating Neat-cattle and Sheep; and, if steam- 

 boiled, Mr. Cobbett says, they will faten Swine * of a good 

 sort.' It is believed that food ot every kind, whether for 

 Man or beast, is most nourishing when sufficiently boiled. 



See STEAMBOILER. 

 The culture tor both sorts of turnips is the same. 



What little has been done in this Country, in raising tur- 

 nips, has been to sow the seeds in the broadcast way, and 

 mostly on new cleared lands; but often on old ground which 

 had been folded; in which ways tolerable crops are often 

 raised, with but little expense. The crops, in this way of 

 management, may be greatly augmented in product, by go- 

 ing over the ground, once at least, with the hoe, for the 

 purpose of extirpating the weeds, and thining the plants, so 

 as to stand from six to eight inches apurt. If the weeds 



