426 E KITCHEN-GARDEN. [JITLY, 



cast, with a "high and even hand ; but some sow it in rows by means 

 of a machine called a turnep-drill, which method is greatly approved 

 of, particularly, as by it much labour is saved in hoeing and thinning 

 the plants. 



In the former method the seed is covered by drawing a light har- 

 row backward, that is, wrong end foremost, to prevent the tines 

 which are generally set somewhat pointed forward, from tearing up 

 the clods and burying the seed too deep. 



One of the most important parts of the treatment, due to the 

 cultivation of the turnep, yet remains to be done, that is, to roll the 

 field with a heavy roller immediately after harrowing in the seedy 

 provided that the ground is sufficiently dry, or as soon after, as it is 

 in a fit condition. By this means all the clods are broken, and 

 much of the seed that would otherwise be exposed to birds, See. 

 will be covered, the surface rendered smooth and compact 

 thereby, and consequently, more retentive of moisture, which will 

 greatly promote the vegetation of the seed and growth of the 

 plants. 



But the all important point is, that the rolling of the ground, is 

 experimentally found to be the most effectual method, hitherto dis- 

 covered for the preservation of the rising crop from the destructive 

 depredations of the fly. The turnep fly, is always found most nu- 

 merous in rough worked ground, as there, they can retreat and take 

 shelter under the clods or lumps of earth, from such changes f 

 weather as are disagreeable to them, or from the attacks of small 

 birds and other animals. 



Experiments have been tried, on coating the seed, with sulphur, 

 soot, Sec. and of steeping it in fain oil and in solutions of various 

 kinds, as a security against the fly, but the result has not been 

 such, as to establish any practise of this nature. 



Hoeing the plants, and setting them out, as it is called, comes next 

 under consideration ; the method of doing this dexterously is dif- 

 ficult to describe, nothing but practise can teach it. A boy in the 

 tnrnep counties, by the time he is the height of the hoe begins to 

 make use of it, consequently, every man who has been brtd there 

 to country business, is a turnep-hoer, yet not always, even with this 

 advantage, an expert one. 



The operation to be performed dexterously and well, requires a 

 quickness of eye and a dexterity of hand that every man is not 

 favoured with ; while some men catch the proper plants to be 

 singled, and set them out, with a rapidity and neatness of execu- 

 tion, very pleasing to the observer. 



The hoe is generally drawn round the plant with a long sweep- 

 ing stroke, and when the plants are small, this is the only stroke 

 that can be used with propriety ; but when they are grovn out of 

 the danger of being buried, a short straight stroke is mere expe- 

 ditious. 



Upon the whole it matters not, which way the operation i , per- 

 formed, provided the ground be stirred, the weeds eradicated, and 

 the plants set out singly and at proper distances. 



