FARM CROPS 27 



be well-tilled. Planting is done from February 

 to May, the " sets," that is, small tubers or 

 larger ones cut into two or three pieces each, 

 being usually planted about a foot apart on the 

 dung in the rows ; the rows are then split back, 

 and must be earthed up from time to time or 

 they lose their shape. About 16 cwt. per acre 

 of sets is sown, and the average yield is about 

 8 tons per acre, but it is a very speculative 

 crop to grow. A suitable manuring would be 

 10 tons of dung, 5 cwt. of super, i cwt. of sul- 

 phate of ammonia, and i| cwt. of sulphate of 

 potash. 



It is now getting a common practice, 

 particularly with early varieties, to "box" the 

 tubers to be used for seed. The tubers are 

 placed in shallow boxes or trays, and kept in 

 well-lit sheds through the winter, with the 

 result that thick, strong stems develop, and 

 these tubers, when planted, grow quicker and 

 are ready for lifting much sooner than others. 



Kohl Rabi and kale are two crops grown 

 to some extent in the southern counties to 

 provide sheep feed in autumn and early winter, 

 for which they are very useful. Kohl rabi 

 does not give such a good bulk as turnips 



