390 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



We have seen a Publication recommending common salt, 

 as an excelent manure tor turnips. It this be found correct, 

 the better way would probably be to mix the salt in the 

 heap of compost, or dung, prepared for the purpose of ma- 

 nuring the crop, as before directed. It would be well also 

 to try the effect of gypsum on this crop, by strewing a lit- 

 tle along the rows after drilling in the seed. 



We should also advise that trial be made of soaking the 

 seed, before sowing, in a solution of saltpetre, with lie of 

 wood-ashes, and old urine, and drying it with gypsum ; as 

 something seems neccessary to assist the growth of the 

 young plints, until such time as their roots extend into the 

 manure bi.l >w. 



In gathering this crop, different modes are practised. 

 The Farmers of Norfolk, in England, where the culture of 

 turnips is very extensively pursued, raise the roots with an 

 iron instrument fixed in a handle, and on the other side it 

 has cross edges, which are struck into the root, and cut it 

 into four pieces, which fits it for feeding raw to the cattle. 

 They are then carted into the stubble-field and thrown out 

 for feeding, and at each time a different part of the fi^ld is 

 taken for the purpose, in order that every part may be ben- 

 ch* ed by the manure left by the cattle. After the allowance 

 is eaten, which should be no more than they can eat at 

 once, some hay is given them to correct the superabundant 

 moisture of the turnips. 



Others pull up the roots by hand, first twisting them half 

 round, in order to break off the fibrous roots, and rub off 

 the earth adhering to them; and others again pull up one in 

 each hand, and then knock them togetuer, to free them 

 from earthy matter, before they are cut in pieces. It is also 

 directed, by some, that the taproot be cut off, before they 

 are fed out, as this is injurious to cattle, by causing a re- 

 dundency of bile. 



Those which are stored for Winter-use, for cattle, in 

 Greatbritain, have the tops as well as the taproots taken off; 

 but, if either be cut too close, the turnip will be apt to rot. 

 The tops are taken off to prevent vegetation ; for this less- 

 ens the nutrirnental qualities of the roots. 



Ruu-baga rnay be left in the ground for the Spring- 

 supply of iood, after the other sort is no longer valuable 

 for that purpose. Some Farmers, in the lower and warmer 

 districts of that Country, leave the Winter-supply in the 

 ground, and take them up as they are wanted; but this, 

 when the ground is frozen, is attended with much trouble 

 in raising them, and some in thawing them, which is done 

 by throwing them into spring water. A considerable loss in 

 the crop is also there incured, when left in the ground; tor. 



