92 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



preventive. It has, however, been stated, that mix- 

 ing the seed with sulphur several days before it is 

 to be sown, and then sowing the sulphur with the 

 seed, has preserved the crop from the fly. If this is 

 so, it is owing to the juices of the young plant be- 

 coming impregnated with the subtle properties of 

 the sulphur, which is obnoxious to every species of 

 insect. Another mode, which has been successfully 

 tried, is that of collecting the weeds in piles around 

 the field when the seed is sown, and, when the plants 

 are coming up, to put brimstone and fire upon the 

 piles on the windward border, which will continue 

 burning, ordinarily, for. some days, and the smoke 

 of which expels or destroys the fly. 



In the after-culture of the Swede there is great 

 economy in taking time by the foretop in destroy- 

 ing the weeds while they are small. The cultivator 

 or hoe should be passed through as soon as the rows 

 can be well discerned, and as nigh to the plants as 

 possible. One day's work is worth more in destroy- 

 ing small weeds than four days' work is in destroy- 

 ing large ones, which overtop and choke 'the plants. 

 The objects which should be aimed at are to keep 

 the crop clean, to thin the plants to eight or ten 

 inches, and to keep the surface of the soil mellow. 

 With a timely use of the cultivator, and repeated 

 once or twice, these objects may be effected without 

 much aid from the hand-hoe. 



The labour of harvesting the nita-baga is less than 

 that of any other root, except perhaps the mangold- 

 wurzel ; and, indeed, the remark will apply to the 

 labour of culture without any qualification. Other 

 root-crops require attention nearly two months 

 longer than this does, and at a season, too, when 

 their growth is slow, and the labour, consequently, 

 tedious and expensive. 



The turnip should be the last crop gathered, be- 

 cause it grows the longest, is least liable to suffer 

 from frost, and is most apt to be injured by ferment- 



