84 ON ROOT CROPS. 



the beginning of May until the close of June. Such 

 seasons as the last, the middle of May is quite late 

 enough. Soon after the plants are up, they will re- 

 quire to be weeded and thinned, leaving them two or 

 three inches asunder. They may be thinned after- 

 wards, as they may be wanted for transplanting, feed- 

 ing swine, &c., until they are about one foot apart in 

 the row. If the soil is good and they do well, this 

 will be found to be quite near enough. The top of 

 the ridges will require to be hoed three or four times, 

 the oftener the better; but the sides may be clear- 

 ed by turning them into the hollows between the rid- 

 ges, with a single horse plough. Let them lie thus 

 until the weeds have become smothered, and then 

 plough them up again. It will be found that this op- 

 eration will effectually destroy all the weeds. The 

 Swedish turnip (which is near the same as the ruta 

 baga), is cultivated in much the same manner as the 

 Mangel Wurtzel, only they must be sown later — at 

 the close of June or beginning of July. 1 have found 

 that if they are sown earlier, they are liable at the 

 close of the season to be taken by a small fly, or 

 louse, which causes them to decay at the top, and 

 their decay will continue after they are put into the 

 cellar or pit. They may also be raised on a soil 

 which is too light and sandy for the Mangel Wurtzel ; 

 but like the Mangel Wurtzel, will do much the best 

 on very rich soils. 



I have prolonged this communication much beyond 

 what I at first intended, but such as it is, I leave it 

 entirely at your disposal. 



And remain with much esteem, 



Respectfully yours, 



JOHN KEELY. 



Hon. J. H. DuNCAxN. 



