192 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



and less nutritive much earlier in the season than 

 the ruta-baga. Von Thaer estimates the value of 

 turnips when compared with hay as 100 to 22 ; that 

 is, 22 lbs. of hay are equal to 100 lbs. of turnips. 



A multitude of instances are on record in which 

 astonishing crops of turnips have been produced ; 

 but we have noticed few in which a better crop, con- 

 sidering the quantity of land cultivated, has been 

 produced than the one mentioned in the following 

 extract of a letter to the editors of the Cultivator 

 from a gentleman in Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



" Although my turnips were injured by the fly, the 

 grasshopper, and the drought, I have succeeded in 

 raising a large supply of ruta-baga. The spot con- 

 tained 480 square perches, where the hardpan is 

 nearer to the surface than on any other part of my 

 farm. My two turnip-houses average each a little 

 more than 3000 cubic feet ; they have been both filled 

 to the brim, and 76 bushels over. You may calc.i- 

 late the number of bushels : I would do it myself if 

 I were not apprehensive of having my credibility 

 questioned. Many of the turnips measured three 

 feet in circumference." 



We have complied with our friend's permission to 

 calculate his crop, and find it to be 3758 bushels, 

 heaped measure (of 2815 cubic inches to the bushel); 

 and as the land on which they Avere grown was 486 

 square rods (three acres and six rods), the amount 

 per acre was 1252 bushels. A most irrefragable 

 proof of good soil and good farming. 



