186 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



eye and touch, of kindly mellowness." In manuring 

 turnip-lands, it should be remembered that root-crops 

 can scarcely be manured too high ; and, whether the 

 seed is to be sown broadcast or in drills, manure 

 should be applied liberally. As drilling, or sowing 

 the seed in rows, is most generally practised, and in 

 ordinary cases is to be preferred, the preparation of 

 the land for manuring and sowing is as follows : 



The soil, prepared as above described, is thrown 

 into ridges by a plough with two mouldboards or 

 by the common plough, the ridges having a sharp 

 top, and being at the distance of from twenty to 

 thirty inches from top to top. If the whole cultiva- 

 tion is to be performed by hand, the ridges may be 

 at the least distance named ; but if, as is always ad- 

 visable, the horse-hoe or cultivator be used, they 

 cannot be much nearer than the greatest distance 

 named. 



The manure should be well-rotted barnyard ma- 

 nure, compost, or what in England is called spit- 

 dung, and the quantity as large as can be afforded. 

 After the ridges are formed, the manure, in carts or 

 wagons, is hauled on the ground, the wheels passing 

 between the ridges, and the manure, thrown out at 

 convenient intervals, is immediately dropped or pla- 

 ced in the furrows. Figure a (p. 187) shows a sec- 

 tion with the manure deposited in the furrows. 



As fast as the manure is distributed in the furrows, 

 it should be covered, which is effected by splitting 

 the ridges with either a double or a single mould- 

 board plough, forming a new ridge on which tho 

 seed is to be sown directly over the manure. Figure 

 h (p. 187) exhibits a section of the new ridges. 



The seed should be put into the earth as soon as 

 the ridges are prepared for its reception, while the 

 earth is fresh and moist, the more rapidly to promote 

 the germination of the seed. Sowing by hand has 

 been generally superseded by machines for drilling 

 in the seed, as they save time in sowing, and, by 

 distribaling the seed more evenly, a less quantity is 



