ROOT CROPS. 91 



Culture. 

 When sown in drills, turnips require a thorough weeding and 

 thinning at about three weeks' growth ; no two plants should 

 remain nearer each other than five inches ; in another three 

 weeks, they require another weeding and hoeing, and if the soil 

 is heavy, the plough should he run between the drills ; after 

 this, they remain untouched until 



Harvesting. 



This does not occur until late in the autumn, or until the 

 arrival of pretty cold weather. The roots are pulled in dry 

 weather, and treated in a similar manner to the Swedes, already 

 described, great care being taken, in storing them, to place them 

 in a situ ition where they will receive an equable, cool tempera- 

 ture, free from damp, and if possible light, as these exposures 

 are liable to induce leafing and corkiness in the bulbs. 



Perhaps none of the roots cultivated present such great varia- 

 tions in their yield as the turnip. Mill considers an average 

 crop to be 11,664 roots per acre, (planted in drills,) which at 

 five pounds each, would weigh 58,320 pounds, or 29|- tons. 

 Other writers place the figures much higher, and many others 

 lower. Of course, allowance must be made for fertility of soil 

 and care in cultivation ; but, everything averaged, the yield 

 may be safely reckoned as about 25 tons per acre. " In rare 

 cases rt has risen as high as 60 tons per acre, and fallen so low 

 as next to nothing ; and in ordinary cases, it ranges throughout 

 the greater part of the enormous interval between these 

 extremes ; and in average cases of good culture, at the commence- 

 ment of rotations, or immediately after manurings, it may be 

 set down at something between 28 and 32 tons per acre." 



The analysis of the turnip shows that it possesses less nutri- 

 tive matter than most of the other roots. The different varieties 

 of course vary in their constituents ; but the following is 

 believed to be the average composition of the common varieties 

 grown in this country : 



Water, r 90.5 



Albumen and Caseine, . . . .1.1 

 Sugar, 4.0 



