Clrap.VI. OF T U R N E P S.' .^if 



If one was fure of having^ rain immediately after the tnrneps are 

 fown, it would be right to fow them very fhallow : but if no rain 

 happens, they are bell: deeper in the earth, becaufe they meet thera 

 with moifture fufficient to make them grow. 



M.Tull, by drilling the feeds alternately at different depths in the 

 earth, was fure to fucceed. in one part or other, whether the feafon 

 was wet or dry. If wet, the feed flightly covered fprouted firftj and 

 in dry feafons, that which lay deepeft was the firfl: that rofe. 



This is an eafy way of having two growths of turneps in the fame 

 field. There is another way, which is, to fow the feed of the lall 

 gathering, and feed that is two years old; for this lad is longer before 

 it rifes than the new. An advantage attending the turneps rifing at 

 different times, is, that they may thereby elcape the' tiy or grub, 

 which often entirely deftroy them. It is obfervcd, that thefe flies 

 often come fuddenly in great fwarms, and deftroy the turneps as they 

 rife; and that they fometimes difappear as fuddenly; fo that the tur- 

 neps which rife a few days after in the neighbouring field, are not at 

 all injured by them : confequently,when the turneps of the fame field 

 rife at different times, one or other may efcape the ravage of thefe 

 infedts ; for they deflroy them only when in their fecdling leaf. 



One of the mofl effectual ways to preferve turneps from thefe in- 

 fedls, is, to run a heavy roller over the whole field, acrofs the rows. 

 This rolling hardens the furface of the earth fo that they can neither 

 get in or out, by which means they are deftroyed. But this preffure 

 of the earth would be very hurtful to the turneps, if the ground had 

 not been deeply plowed, if it was moifl, or if it was ftiff and apt to 

 bind. Thefe inconveniences are however partly remedied, by hoeing 

 the alleys as foon as the turneps have put forth their large leaves; for 

 then they have nothing to fear from the infe(fls, which the hoeing 

 likewife helps to deftroy. The horfe-hoe is the only inflrument with 

 which this work can well be done, the earth being often fo hard, that 

 the hand-hoe would only fcratch it. 



When the feafon has been kindly, and all the feeds have grown, 

 find the plants have not fuffered by the fly or other infeds, they mufl 

 be thinned early, that the earth may not be exhaufted by plants which 

 are not intended to remain; for thofe that are left ihould be about a 

 foot afunder. 



When the turneps thrive well, only each alternate alley need be 

 hoed at one time, and the others a few days after : becaufe it is better 

 to feed the plants b^ degrees, by dividing the hoeings in this manner, 



T t than 



