134 Chi the Cultivation of Turnips. 



saturated with ammonia obtained in the preparation of gas, has been 

 accurately tried, but all in vain. 



2. To render the turnip less attractive, quick-lime has been used, 

 sown when the dew was strong on the plants. The ground has been 

 brushed with the leaves of the elder tree *. Turnips have been sown 

 in the furrow, as well as on the ridge ; and radish seed has been used 

 in small quantities, the turnip-fly being particularly fond of the leaves 

 of that plant. 



3. The growth of the plant is quickened, by the application of 

 a proper quantity of suitable manure, and placing it immediately 

 under the plant, and where practicable, more especially in dry soils 

 and seasons, the manure has been watered before it was applied. 



4. The culture of the plant is improved, by sowing a great quan- 

 tity of seed ; also, by carefully weeding the crop, and frequently stir- 

 ring the soil. 



It is well known, where attention has been paid to the means of 

 quickening the growth, and improving the culture of the plant, that 

 the fly is not much to be apprehended. The plan of cultivating 

 turnips in ridges, as originally practised by Mr Dawson of Frogden, 

 in Roxburghshire, and now established with so much success at 

 Holkham, will certainly, in a great measure, prevent the ravages of 

 that destructive insect ; but it is quite a mistake to suppose, that 

 the plan is only calculated for such a soil and climate as that of Holk- 

 ham, for it had long been previously adopted, not only in Roxburgh- 

 shire, but in Berwickshire -j-, the Lothians, Northumberland, and 

 other districts in Scotland and England. Still however, there are 

 ungenial soils, as Mr Rhodes very properly observes, where it would 

 be desirable to cultivate turnips, and where very strong measures, for 

 the destruction of the fly, would be of the greatest utility. It is, 

 doubtless, a fair field, on which chemistry may exercise its powers ; 

 at the same time, if security can be obtained by simpler means, it 

 would be more desirable. 



In looking over my notes on this subject, I find that other methods 

 have been resorted to, for protecting the turnip crop, besides those 

 enumerated by Mr Rhodes. 



that it never fails of success. For three seasons, steeping turnip-seed in train- 

 oil, prevented the attack of the fly at Lord Orford's in Norfolk ; but after being 

 steeped in train-oil, the seed was kept in salt pickle during the night. Seven gal- 

 lons of oil were found sufficient to prepare seed for 200 acres of turnips. An- 

 nals of Agriculture, vol. xiv. p. 168. Perhaps neglecting these " minutia," 

 (steeping the seed in saline pickle, or mixing the seed with pounded gypsum), oc- 

 casioned the disappointment. Trials, with the addition of both these articles, 

 ought to be made, by some public- spirited farmers. 



* To insure the success of this application, the leaves of the elder should be 

 a little bruised, and fumigated with the smoke of burnt tobacco, mixed with a 

 small quantity of assafoetida. Transactions of the Bath Society, vol. i. p. 92, 

 and 95. In this case also, minutiae have been neglected. The dwarf elder 

 has also a more pungent smell than the larger sort. 



f The Reporter of the Husbandry of Berwickshire states, that during fif- 

 teen years' experience, he had neither seen nor heard of any misfortune from 

 the fly, except in a few instances, owing to the drill system being there uni- 

 versally practised. See Report of Scotland, vol. i. p. 558. 



