436 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [July 



next under consideration; the method of doing this dexterously is 

 difficult to describe, nothing but practice can teach it. A boy in 

 tiie turnip counties bv the time he is the height of the hoe begins to 

 make use of it, consequently every man who lias been bred there 

 to country business, is a turnip-hocr, yet not always, even with this 

 advantage, an expert one. 



The operation, to be performed dexterously and well, requires a 

 quickness of eve and a dexterity of hand that every man is not 

 favoured with; while some men catch the proper plants to be 

 singled, and Bet them out, with a rapidity and neatness of execu- 

 tion very pleasing to the observer. 



The hoe is generally drawn around the plant with a long sweep- 

 ing stroke, and when the plants are small, this is the only stroke 

 that can be used with propriety; but when they are grown out of 

 the danger of being buried, a short straight stroke is more expedi- 

 tious. 



Upon the whole, it matters not which way the operation is per- 

 formed, provided the ground be stirred, the weeds eradicated, and 

 the plants set out singly and at proper distances. 



The due distance is from seven to twelve inches everyway; this 

 must be regulated according to the strength of the land, the time of 

 sowing, and the kind of turnip cultivated; strong ground and early 

 sowing always producing the largest roots. 



The width of the hoe should be in proportion to the medium dis- 

 tance to be left between the plants, and this to their expected size. 



The critical time of the first hoeing is when the plants, as they 

 lie spread upon the ground, are nearly the size of the palm of the 

 hand; if, however, seed weeds be numerous and luxuriant, they 

 ought to be checked before the turnip plants arrive at that size, 

 lest bein<>; drawn up tall and slender they should acquire a weak, 

 sickly habit. 



A second hoeing should be given when the leaves are grown to 

 the height of eight or nine inches, in order to destroy weeds, loosen 

 the earth, and finally to regulate the plants; a third, if found neces- 

 sary, may be given at any subsequent period. 



Here again will the farmer exclaim against the expense and 

 trouble of hoeing; but let him try one acre in this way, and leave 

 another of the same quality to nature, as is too frequently done, 

 and he. will find that the extra produce of the hoed acre will more 

 than six times compensate for the labour bestowed. 



In the kitchen garden, the early Dutch, early stone, a.reen 

 topped, red round, white round, and yellow turnips, are excellent 

 kinds to cultivate for table use, and full crops of them oujjht to 

 be sown between the twentieth of this month and the middle of 

 August. 



Ruta liasxa, or Swedish Turnip. 



This variety of turnip is the most important of all, and deserves 

 to be ranked in the first class of vegetable productions. Its quan- 

 tity of produce, richness of flavour, and extreme hardiness, renders 



