TURNIPS. 115 



cured over the winter, in the usual manner of securing 

 potatoes, either in the cellar, or in pits dug in some dry 

 field, and covered close and secure. The tops should he 

 put in small heaps to prevent them from heating, and fed 

 to cattle. 



Ruta Baga does not come t© its sweetest taste till Feb- 

 ruary. To fat cattle, they must not be given in so great 

 a quantity as to occasion a continual looseness. Hogs 

 will feed and fatten on them ; cut small, they are re- 

 markably fitted to fatten sheep ; and the horse, when 

 accustomed to them, is said to prefer them to grain. 

 They should be put into a tub, and cut small with an 

 instrumant like a hoe, with the blade put perpendicular 

 into the shaft. A man will with this instrument cut as 

 much in one hcv:r, as six hors^es will consume in twenty- 

 four. For all animals, they are improved by steaming 

 or boiling. 



The French turnip nearly resembles the Swedish, and 

 requires about the same culture, &c. 



TUB NIPS. 



Turnips are cultivated in two ways, viz. — in the broad- 

 cast and drilled methods. They succeed best in a light, 

 sandy loam. Upon new or fresh ground the}^ are always 

 sweeter, than on old cultivated fields. Though such is 

 the kind of land best adapted to the raising of turnips, 

 yet they are cultivated upon every sort of soil in use as 

 arable land. Much of the sandy soil now lying waste in 

 various places, might, with the assistance of culture, 

 and a small portion of manure, be profitably employed 

 in producing turnips ; for such ground, if dressed with a 

 light coat of clay or loam, would yield excellent crops of 

 this vegetable. 



The ground intended for the production of turnips in 

 the ensuing season, ought to be deeplj'^ ploughed in Oc- 

 tober or November, and to be left in that rough state, to 

 receive the benefits of the winter frosts, &lc. In the 

 April following, harrow it, about the middle of May 

 give it a deep cross ploughing; and in June harrow it 

 again. Just before sowing', spread a good coat of man- 

 ure, plough it in lightly, and mix it well with the har- 

 row ; sow the seed and harrow it in with a light harrow, 

 and roll the ground. 



