ROOT CROPS. 207 



row sometimes, but not always, followed by a roller, 

 may be used in covering the seed. 



Cultivation. — When rutabagas are sown in 

 drills, the horse cultivation should begin as soon as 

 the young plants can be distinctly traced in the line 

 of the row. The cultivation ought to be deeper at 

 first than later, and close to the rows, but not so 

 close as to disturb the young plants. If, at the same 

 time, the undisturbed portion of the soil is disturbed 

 with the hoe, but without cutting out any of the 

 plants, the weeds can never again become so trouble- 

 some along the line of the row. The cultivation 

 given should be frequent, and it ought to be con- 

 tinued as long as it can be done without breaking 

 off any considerable proportion of the leaves of 

 the rutabagas. 



When the plants have produced four or five 

 leaves, or when they are three to four inches high, 

 the thinning should be done and with much dispatch. 

 The workman stands facing the row, and with a 

 forward and backward movement of the hoe strikes 

 out the plants that are to be removed. ■ The distance 

 between the plants may be varied from six to twelve 

 inches, but it is not common to thin the plants to a 

 greater distance than, say, nine to ten inches. 

 And they shouM be gone over a second time with 

 the hand hoe, to perfect the thinning and also the 

 destruction of the weeds. When rutabagas are 

 broadcasted they are not given any cultivation. 



Pasturing. — Rutabagas are more commonly 

 grazed off by sheep. When the crop has been grown 

 in drills the sheep are usually inclosed in hurdles, 

 and these are moved from time to time, as required. 

 The object of the hurdling is, first, to secure the 



