TURNIP, ENEMIES SNAIL, FLY. 217 



preserving is the best for all purposes: Injury is 

 rarely sustained before the middle of winter; at 

 which period take up the crop, separating for the 

 table the well shaped bulbs which by that one ar- 

 gues all other good qualities and consigning the 

 remainder to the cows. It is immaterial whether 

 the taproots be cut off or not, but the leaves must be 

 kept entire. Make a rut with the spade six inches 

 deep, into which place the turnips in close order, 

 and cover them an inch or two overhead, allowing 

 the leaves, which serve both to exclude the frost 

 and to maintain the growing powers of the plant, 

 to spread above ground. The covering of the first 

 drill prepares for the second ; and as the order is 

 nearly as close in the one direction as in the other, 

 very little ground is occupied, and the work is not 

 tedious. In the farm the like operation is quickly 

 performed with the help of the plough. 



With regard to the enemies of this crop, a sprink- 

 ling of quick lime, which must be repeated after 

 rain, has been found to check the ravages whether 

 of slugs or of the fly. Should these spoilers, how- 

 ever, continue till the appearance of vegetation is 

 almost gone, it is yet surprising, if there be plants, 

 how soon they gather strength and cover the 

 ground; and though no remnant should be spared, 

 it is yet seldom necessary to want a crop. Dig the 

 ground afresh, and the second sowing will in all 

 probability advance unmolested: the snails are put 

 out of the way, and drier weather may impede their 

 travels. The fly indeed will but rarely renew its at- 



