338 THE KOHL-RABI CROP. 



cepted as so perfect a change as mangold in the rota- 

 tion for turnips, owing to its belonging to the same order 

 of plants (Cruciferas), and possessing the same food-re- 

 quirements from the soil, still it offers great inducements 

 as a substitute for turnips, especially in districts where 

 the crop is liable to suffer from "mildew," which is so com- 

 monly the case in the southern parts of the kingdom. It 

 also possesses the property of growing on stronger soils 

 than the turnip; and, owing to its power of resisting the 

 action of drought and mildew, may be sown safely before 

 the turnip - so wing season commences, which on a large 

 farm relieves the labour arrangements of that busy season 

 very considerably. 



The range of soils suitable to its cultivation is pretty 

 large; in nearly every variety of soil it will thrive, if pro- 

 per preparation be made as regards the mechanical and 

 chemical condition of the soil for its cultivation. Extremes 

 of either light soils, as sands and gravels, or of heavy soils, 

 as clays of a plastic nature, are those least adapted for it 

 the one failing chiefly in its food- supply ing powers to the 

 plant, the other in those physical conditions which are 

 equally essential to its growth and development. Both 

 of these, however, may be materially altered by means 

 quite within our reach; and in that case, may be rendered 

 as capable of carrying a plant of kohl-rabi as of any other 

 root or fallow crop. In all cases and in all soils the con- 

 ditions already described as essential to successful vegetable 

 development, should be secured as far as possible viz., 

 depth of tillage-soil, fineness of division of its particles, 

 and absence of stagnant water in it. Comparative success 

 or failure in our crops generally marks the degree to which 

 these conditions have been secured. In preparing the land 

 for kohl-rabi, the same directions may be followed as those 

 given in reference to turnips (page 293), bearing in mind, 

 that for crops of this description the land should always 



