supply itig Milk for the Poor. 15 1 



ascertain the weight of an acre of drilled turnips: I weighed various plots of fen 

 yards square, in different parts of the field, and found their several weights (differ- 

 ing very little) gave about 108 stone each, which is 32 tons and upwards per acre. 

 There are many crops in the neighbourhood equally weighty, though none, per- 

 haps, quite so clean. They succeeded wheat, and had about twenty carts per acre 

 uf ashes and street-rakings. They were sown in stitches, three feet asunder; the 

 whole was worked from July till the end of September with the double mould-board 

 plough and potatoe harrow, alternately taking the soil from the turnips and return- 

 ing it to them. The stitches were besides twice hand-weeded and thinned. This 

 mode of cultivation is attended with considerable expense, but I conceive it to be 

 amply repaid both in the present and future crops. 



Thirty-two tons per acre, at a farthing per stone, brings them to C^. 6s. 6d\ 

 The estimate of £"10. an acre is moderate, as the turnips cost at that rate under a 

 halfpenny per stone, which is but a fourth of the price of straw. The expence of 

 pulling and carting is doubdess heavy ; but, in strong lands, and where much wet 

 falls, I conceive it impossible to attempt eating them off the ground with advantage : 

 even where there is a pasture adjoining for the sheep to he, the constant passing 

 through the mire injures them so much as to prevent them fattening; at least I have 

 found it so after many trials ; but I speak of mountain sheep, having no experience 

 of any other. The Swedish turnips were very good. The kohlrabi got to about five 

 pounds each, the white were the largest, the purple the hardiest. Cattle and sheep 

 are particularly fond of them ; but I see no advantage they have over the Swedish, 

 except that they may be got at in frost. The cole-seed was delayed sowing from 

 the wet; and very cold weather succeeding prevented its making much progress. 

 It may advance in spring, but to those who want it sooner it is a failing crop. My 

 stock consists of 22 heifers, 8 cows, which were in milk during summer, and give 

 but little milk in October, 4 spring calvers, 10 head of young cattle, and 3 bulls, 

 and 4 fattening; total shcdded 51 : 50 Highland heifers and 150 sheep; part of 

 the Highland heifers and sheep I have disposed of, which reduced my stock, at the 

 commencement of the year, to 40 Highlanders and 120 sheep. 



The cows were not in general milk till the beginning of November, when the 

 milk obtained exceeded 50 gallons per day; 30 and upwards in a morning, and 

 so i-n an evening. 160 Quarts of new milk and 40 of skimmed were sold to the.. 



