168 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Dr. LoEiNG. The onion crop does not want any rotation. I 

 suppose the onion, like some animals, gets accustomed to its 

 own hole and likes it. At any rate, an old onion field is the 

 best place to raise onions in ; there is no doubt about that ; and 

 after two, three or four years, you can get an onion field so free 

 from weeds and in such a state of fertilization, that an onion 

 crop will almost grow there spontaneously. That is an excep- 

 tion to the rule. I have no doubt there are other crops that 

 are somewhat like it. 



I have made these statements because I was rather gratified 

 at various expressions with regard to the raising of wheat and 

 root crops. The other remarks I have thrown in incidentally. 



Col. Wilder. I am very glad to hear this discussion in rela- 

 tion to the root crop, and I rise particularly to bring to mind a 

 record made twenty-one years ago last September, by Mr. 

 Webster, at the inauguration of the Norfolk County Agricul- 

 tural Society, where he advocated the growing of root crops, 

 and especially of turnips, as very important to the farmer. And 

 whatever may have been said of Mr. Webster, in relation to his 

 farming politics, those who knew him will stand by me in attest- 

 ing that he was not only a good farmer, but in principle he was 

 a great farmer. At that meeting, Mr. Webster made a speech 

 which has been handed down to posterity as his Turnip speech, 

 and he said, " Whatever may be said of England in relation to 

 her manufactures, whatever may be said of her in relation to 

 her success in the cultivation of crops, I take the responsibility 

 of asserting, that without the turnip crop, England could not 

 pay the interest on her national debt." 



I did not intend to say much on this subject, but I think Dr. 

 Loring did not mean to say that the carrot crop would not 

 rotate well. Doctor, did I misunderstand you ? 



Dr. Loring. I did not allude to the carrot crop, for two 

 reasons. In the first place, I do not believe in it much. I do 

 not think it is a good crop for the farmer to raise. The turnip 

 answers every purpose for cattle and horses, and is cheaper. 

 The carrot crop, I think, needs rotation. I don't think a field 

 will run carrots year after year. 



Question. Do your horses eat turnips ? 



Dr. Loring. Yes, sir. I feed all my young horses and driv- 

 ing horses with turnips. 



