SOWING ON THE "RIDGE" AND THE "FLAT." 801 



finishes them off in one operation. In general, the prac- 

 tice of sowing on the ridge is preferable to sowing on the 

 flat, as it enables the hoeing to be commenced much 

 earlier, and the crop to get a better start and be kept 

 cleaner than on the flat. In some soils, however, and in 

 some districts, sowing on the flat is most advisable in 

 order to retain the moisture in the soil, which, by the in- 

 creased surface exposure of ridging, would be largely dis- 

 sipated. On gravels, sandy and calcareous soils with dry 

 absorbent subsoils, or in naturally dry districts, it is rarely 

 advisable to ridge for root crops. On alluvial soils, marls, 

 loams, and the stronger class of soils generally, or in moist 

 climates, sowing on the ridge may be advantageously 

 practised. 



A sufficient degree of moisture in the soil is always 

 one condition necessary for the germination and success- 

 ful start of the turnip plant ; and it is always better to 

 wait a few days until this be secured, than to place the 

 seed in a perfectly dry bed. To meet this not unfrequent 

 occurrence, and at the same time to secure a supply of 

 food to the young plant, a "liquid-manure drill" has been 

 constructed, which deposits a supply of manure in a state 

 of solution down one set of coulter-tubes, while another 

 set supply the seed to be deposited in the moistened 

 bed, which is immediately closed up by a small roller fol- 

 lowing and finishing off the work. The expense of this 

 mode of sowing is certainly greater than the others, but 

 that is of small importance if it secures a good plant at this 

 ticklish period of its existence. For the purpose of apply- 

 ing manure either in a liquid or a solid form with the seed, 

 " Peruvian guano" is probably the best of all applications, 

 as it contains the three principal ingredients phosphates, 

 potash, and ammonia, which determine the value of all 

 our fertilizing materials. For applying at other times, 

 either with or without farmyard manure, the ingredient 



