CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. J43 



Manuring. Different kinds of manure, as well as various 

 modes of application, are used. Some spread the manure evenly 

 over the land, before ploughing; others deposit it in the inter- 

 vals or drills. Of well prepared barn-yard or compost manure, 

 a liberal supply is necessary, as the goodness of the crop will 

 depend upon the fertility communicated to the soil. The ma- 

 nures suitable to the turnip are applicable to all the other root 

 crops. Lime, street-sweepings, sea-weed, bone-dust, plaster, 

 ashes, &c., are all used in the drill system. These are sown in 

 the drills. 



Sowing. The old plan of sowing broadcast is now nearly 

 abandoned, and the drill barrow, which is an admirable instru- 

 ment, is almost universally used in the sowing of root crops. 

 The advantages arising from the use of this implement are, the 

 seeding is performed expeditiously and with great regularity. 

 The land being prepared, as previously described, the machine 

 lays out the drills, drops the seed in the fresh earth, covers, and 

 rolls it down immediately, by which means the seed will gene- 

 rally germinate several days earlier, than when planted in the 

 old way. 



The time of sowing varies according to circumstances, season 

 and climate. From the middle to the last of July is the usual 

 time; some sow as late as the 12th of August. When sown 

 broadcast, a quart of seed is sufficient for an acre; and when 

 sown in this manner, the field may be passed over by the har- 

 row as soon as the turnips have attained the size of walnuts. 

 Though many of the plants will be displaced, the crop will be 

 vastly benefitted by the operation.* When sown by the drill 

 machine a pint of seed is abundant. It is generally considered 

 that late sown turnips are much the best for the table, and that 

 they are less liable to disease and the ravages of insects, if sown 

 late, than when sown early in the season. 



flfter culture. In the after culture of the turnip, as well as 

 all other root crops, the cultivator cannot be dispensed with. 

 It is, as soon as the young plants show themselves above 

 ground, to be passed along the intervals, pulverizing the earth, 

 and removing the weeds. At the second operation a hand fol- 

 lows with the turnip-hoe, the drills are to be well cleansed and 

 the plants thinned; the proper distance between the plants is 

 eight to twelve inches. The distance between the plants, it 

 should be remembered, must be regulated according to the 

 strength of the land, the time of sowing, and the kind culti- 

 vated strong ground and early sowing, always producing the 

 largest roots. The width of the hoe should be in proportion 



* E. P. ROBERTS, Esq., of Baltimore. 



