270 THE COMPLETE FARMER 



climate from that of Great Britain, and the different uses to 

 which this crop is commonly applied in the two countries. 

 In England they usually feed turnips off the ground with 

 sheep ; or draw them for neat cattle during the winter as 

 fast as they are wanted, and often let them stand in the field 

 till spring, to supply green food for sheep at the time of their 

 yeaning, &c. But in the United States, this crop must be 

 harvested in autumn and secured from frost ; and it would 

 seem to be desirable that they should have had time to ob- 

 tain their full growth before they are gathered. 



' Ellis, an old writer on husbandry, says, " Turnips sooted 

 about twenty-four hours after they are up will be entirely 

 secured from the fly." Some advise, and it may oe well, if 

 not too much trouble, to leach soot and sprinkle the young 

 turnips with the liquor. M'Mahon, in treating of the culti- 

 vation of turnips, says, " the plants should be left from seven 

 to twelve inches every way ; this must be regulated accord- 

 ing to the strength of the land, the time of sowing, and the 

 kind of turnips cultivated ; strong ground and early sowing 

 always producing the largest roots." 



' The width of the hoe should be in proportion to the me- 

 dium distance to be left between the plants, and this to their 

 expected size. 



' The critical time of the first hoeing is, when the plants, 

 as they lie spread on the ground, are nearly the size of the 

 palm of the hand ; if, however, seed-weeds be numerous and 

 luxuriant, they ought to be checked before the turnip plants 

 arrive at that size ; lest, being drawn up tall and slender, 

 they should acquire a weak and sickly habit. 



' A second hoeing should be given when the leaves are 

 grown to the height of eight or nine inches, in order to de- 

 stroy weeds, loosen the earth, and finally to regulate the 

 plants ; a third, if found necessary, may be given at any sub- 

 sequent period. 



' Here will the farmer exclaim against the expense and 

 trouble of hoeing ; but let him try one acre in this way, and 

 leave another of the same quality to nature, as is too fre- 

 quently done, and he will find that the extra produce of the 

 hoed acre will more than compensate for the labor bestowed. 



' Loudon says archbishop Garrie, a Scottish gardener of 

 merit, tried steeping the seed in sulphur, sowinjj soot, ashes, 

 and sea-sand along the drills, all without effect. At last he 

 tried dusting the rows, when the plants were in the seed-leaf, 

 with quicklime, and found that effectual in preventing the 



