104. 



for this use, I think, is the Globe Turnip, which I have grown 

 to the size of a half-peck measure, without being wormy or 

 spongy. It is a white, smooth turnip ; a quick, strong and 

 uniform grower, and of good quality. They are sown broad- 

 cast in fourteen inch drills, or furrows made with the plough, 

 where manure is spread, and the seed scattered upon it by the 

 hand. Another mode is, putting the seed into the hills with 

 corn or potatoes. 



The turnip is easily affected in form and flavor, by soil 

 climate, and mode of culture. Sowed in spring, with corn, 

 the turnip, when matured, resembled the Ruta-Baga. Sowed 

 by a machine' upon the surface where manure was spread, and 

 raked fine, the same variety of turnip was nearly fiat, of hand- 

 some form. The reason of the former shape, was, the roots 

 spread throngh the manure, and even went beloiv the manure 

 for moisture, while the leaves expanded into the atmosphere 

 and sun for nourishment. Generally if the season be dry, the 

 tops are small, and the form of turnip more flat than in a wet 

 season. Broadcast sowing in spring is attended with difficul- 

 ties which render it impracticable : — 



1st, Because room may not be given for each plant to thrive. 



2d, Weeds are apt to spring up, overpowering the crop. 



3d, The ground may be heavy, baked or scorched ; and for 

 these evils, the remedy, which cannot be applied, is, thinning 

 the plants, weeding and stirring the soil. 



In raising the fall crop, some of the evils alluded to are, of 

 course, less frequent ; but by far the largest crop may be 

 realized by drill culture. The rows may be as near as eight 

 inches in width ; the seed sown with a machine ; the plants 

 thinned, leaving them from six to ten inches apart. By this 

 method, every portion of the crop may be made to thrive 

 equally well, by the aid of fertilizers if desired. 



Putting seed upon manure in furrows made with plough, or 

 otherwise, is attended with bad results, because, although pro- 

 ducing well for a time, in pulling from the drills, other plants 

 are disturbed — the strength of manure exhausted — and the 



