216 GARDENING. 



vinous fermentation. It is, however, recommended 

 by its hardiness (fearing neither cold, nor heat, nor 

 drought) and by the cheapness of its culture ; for, if 

 once committed to the earth, it calls for no additional 

 care ; continuing itself, and spreading and flourish- 

 ing in the midst of rivals and enemies. It is this 

 last property which renders it so precious to the 

 agriculturist as a permanent hog-pasture ; and the 

 more so, as it will accommodate itself to any de- 

 scription of soil, though that most congenial to it 

 is a deep, moist, or marshy loam. Like the potato, 

 it is propagated by cuttings. 



The TURNIP (Rapa). This plant is of the cabbage 

 family. But, unlike its relations, it requires a loose, 

 warm, and dry soil, either sandy or calcareous ; and 

 as a manure, wood ashes rather than dung. There 

 are many varieties, four of which are common to 

 garden and field culture, viz., the Dutch, whose ve- 

 getation is most rapid, and, of course, fittest for early 

 crops; and the Swedish, the green, and the purple 

 top, which do not succeed unless sown late, and 

 which, on this account as well as on account of their 

 greater solidity and less evaporation, are the most 

 suitable for winter use. Turnip seed is generally 

 sown broadcast; but the experiments of Lord Town- 

 send have clearly established the preference of the 

 row or drill method, as well for a greater economy 

 of time and labour, as for a better and more abun- 

 dant product. The time of sowing, as already in- 

 dicated, will depend on the variety selected. If the 

 Dutch, sow early ; if the ruta baga, sow about the 

 1st of June ;* and if the green or purple top, do not 

 sow till the last week of July or first week of 

 August. After sufficiently covering the seed, press 

 it down with a heavy roller; the object of which is 

 not merely to bring the earth and the seed into con- 

 tact, but to protect the rising crop against the fly, as 

 many experiments concur in proving that these in- 



* The J5th or 20th is preferable. J. B. 



