July.) THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 435 



The time of sowing depends much on the application; when 

 turnips are intended tor early consumption, they may be sown soon 

 after the middle of this month; the general mode, in the middle 

 states, is, to begin to sow about the twentieth of July, and to con- 

 tinue sowing, as convenient, from this time to the middle of August, 

 or a few days after. 



If a farmer could insure his first crop, I would not advise him to 

 sow till the last four days in this month, or even to the third or 

 fourth day of August; but liable as the turnip crop is to numerous 

 accidents and miscarriages, it is prudent to have a week or two in 

 reserve for a second sowing, in case the first should fail. 



The quantity of seed sown on an acre by the great turnip farmers, 

 is never less than one pound; more frequently a pound and a half, 

 and by some two. If every grain was to come to perfection 

 a quarter of a pound would be more than sufficient, but having 

 to encounter so many accidents, a pound is the least quantity that 

 ought to be sown on an acre. 



Tlie period in which you intend to sow being arrived, plough 

 your prepared turnip ground once more, lightly; give it one or two 

 strokes of the harrow all over, and sow the seed immediately on the 

 fresh surface. The method of sowing is generally by broad-cast, 

 with a high and even hand; but some sow it in rows by means of a 

 machine called a turnip-drill, which method is greatly approved of, 

 particularly as by it much labour is saved in hoeing and thinning 

 the plants. 



In the former method the seed is covered by drawing a light har- 

 row backward, that is, wrong end foremost, to prevent the tines, 

 which are generally set somewhat pointed forward, from tearing up 

 the clods and burying the seed too deep. 



One of the most important parts of the treatment, due to the cul- 

 tivation of the turnip, yet remains to be done; that is, to roll the 

 field with a heavy roller immediately after harrowing in the seed, 

 provided that the ground is sufficiently dry, or as soon after as it is 

 in a fit condition. By this means all the clods are broken, and much 

 of the seed that would otherwise be exposed to birds, &c. will be 

 covered, the surface rendered smooth and compact thereby, and 

 consequently, more retentive of moisture, which will greatly pro- 

 mote the vegetation of the seed and growth of the plants. 



But the all important point is, that the rolling of the ground is 

 experimentally found to be the most effectual method, hitherto dis- 

 covered, for the preservation of the rising crop from the destructive 

 depredations of the fly. The turnip fly is always found most nu- 

 merous in rough worked ground, as there they can retreat and take 

 shelter under the clods or lumps of earth, from such changes of 

 weather as are disagreeable to them, or from the attacks of small 

 birds and other animals. 



Exppriments have been tried on coating the seed with sulphur, 

 soot, &c. and of steeping it in train oil and in solutions of various 

 kinds, as a security against the fly; but the result has not been such 

 as to establish any practice of this nature. 



Hoeing the plants and setting them out, as it is called, comes 



