OF CHOPS USUALLY CULTIVATED. 295 



mand; whereas formerly, during severe storms, the turnips 

 were often so much hurt by the frost, as to do the cattle no 

 good, while it continued. They are also thus enabled to 

 keep them on much longer in the spring, as potatoes may 

 be used two months after common turnips are quite useless, 

 though this argument does not apply to the Swedes. Tkis 

 plan seems to be gaining ground, and is likely to answer 

 in the western districts, where they prefer the culture of 

 potatoes to that of turnips. By turnips, an ox may be fat- 

 tened in five months. By this new mode of feeding alter- 

 nately with turnips and potatoes, three months, or even 

 less, may be sufficient, the cattle being probably tempted to 

 eat more from a change of food. It is not likely, however, 

 that an acre of potatoes will go farther than an acre of 

 even common turnips. The same land that will produce 

 12 or 13 tons of potatoes,* would yield 40 tons of turnips. 

 It is probable the latter would go farther in point of fatten- 

 ing, and at any rate would produce the most manure. It is 

 a most important circumstance, at the same time, in favour 

 of potatoes, that when they are produced, they can easily 

 be converted, if necessary, from the food of stock, to that 

 of man, and consequently, in times of scarcity, would prove 

 an invaluable resource. They do not require also, such, 

 strong land as the Swedes. 



9. Clover and Rye-grass. Red clover, with a mixture 

 of rye-grass, and occasionally with some white and yellow 

 clover, and perhaps rib-grass, are the grasses almost uni- 

 versally sown in Scotland. Some experiments have been 



* Mr John Shirreff is convinced, that from the first of October, till 

 Christmas, raw turnips will feed faster than raw potatoes. 



