On the Cultivation of Turnips. 135 



Some have recommended taking the seed of the same year, and of 

 a former year, and mixing them together. Then to steep one-half of 

 the seed, thus mixed, in water, for twenty-four hours, and afterwards 

 to mingle the whole together. By this previous management, the tur- 

 nips will rise at four different periods ; and though the fly may de- 

 stroy some of the plants, there will yet remain a sufficient quantity for 

 a crop *, more especially if the quantity of seed used is considerable. 

 Mr Wigfull senior of Sheffield recommends, that twenty-four 

 bushels of the refuse of kiln-dried oats, (called shudes in Yorkshire), 

 or the same quantity of very dry saw-dust, or any other substance 

 that will absorb a large quantity of moisture, (as fine earth in a dried 

 state), shall be steeped for some days in putrid urine, and then mix- 

 ed with eight bushels of soot, or of wood-ashes, and spread on th<t 

 young turnips, as soon as they appear above ground ; which, he is 

 convinced, will preserve them from the ravages of the fly. 



Mr Poppy of Witneeham, who has tried a number of these specifics 

 for the destruction of the fly, found none of them effectual. He is 

 convinced indeed, that the fly could draw the sap, and destroy the 

 plant, without coming at all to the upper surface, by feeding on the in- 

 ner and not on the outer part of the leaf; and with much ingenuity 

 he has suggested the practice, of drilling alternately rows of common 

 turnips and Swedes, the former very thick, to serve as food for the 

 fly, and the latter thinner, to stand for a crop. Perhaps this plan, 

 joined to Mr Sutton's mode of starving the fly, (to be afterwards de- 

 scribed), might be successful. 



An intelligent farmer in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, (Mr 

 Johnstone of Hill-house), always thins or pricks out his turnips as 

 soon as they appear above ground, as they are certain of being in 

 the rough-leaf 'next morning, and consequently out of danger f , a plan 

 which may easily be tried. 



A very great improvement in the cultivation of turnips, in dry soils, 

 without any mixture of clay in them, is, by applying a heavy roller 

 to the turnip drills, instead of the light ones commonly used. The rea- 

 sons are obvious. The soil being thus thoroughly compressed, moisture 

 is retained in it, and the gaseous effluvia, arising from the decomposing 

 putrescent mass below, which nourishes the plants when young, not 

 being suffered to escape too rapidly, which is often the case, their 

 growth is promoted and quickened. The soil, also, being rendered 

 perfectly smooth, the little vermin have no hiding places, in which 

 they can shelter themselves. 



* Donaldson's Modern Agriculture, vol. ii. p. 313. As the latest and fresh- 

 est seed will always spring up first, and the different portions of the mixture* 

 will rise up at different times, the fly will naturally fasten on that which first 

 appears ; but when the second growth comes up, it will quit the first and at- 

 tack the second ; the same preference will be given to the third, and the fourth, 

 when they respectively appear, the youngest being always the sweetest, and the 

 most palatable. Before the last is finished, what remain of the former growths 

 will be so far advanced, and will have- so harsh and bitter a taste, that the fly 

 will not return to them again. Thus a sufficient quantity of plants may escape 

 for a full crop. General Report of Scotland, vol. i. p. 560. 



f Forfarshire Report, p. 565. This proves that stirring the ground is of 

 use. 



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