MODE OF CROPPING SOWING. 355 



in the soil from evaporation at this period of the year, 

 that in hot climates it is the ordinary custom of the hus- 

 bandman to plough the fields during the night, so that 

 they may not lose the natural moisture they contain, 

 which they would soon do under the influence of the 

 summer's sun. This practice was graphically described 

 by the Times correspondent during the late troubles in 

 India, when considerable anxiety was caused during one 

 of the night marches of the troops in the early part of 

 the campaign, by the appearance of lights moving slowly 

 in the fields, far and near to the line of march, but 

 which, instead of an enemy watching the flanks of the 

 marching body, proved to be the harmless lamps of the 

 husbandman, attached to the beam of the plough, with 

 which he was renewing the surface of his ill- worked 

 fields. 



Having arranged the mode of cropping with rape, and 

 duly prepared the ground intended for it, both as re- 

 gards the necessary manuring and tillage operations, so as 

 to secure the conditions most suitable for the crop, the 

 sowing may be effected either by broadcasting or by drill- 

 ing, and either on the flat or on the ridge, in the man- 

 ner already described. In all cases, however, drilling is 

 to be preferred to broadcasting, and where advantage is 

 to be taken of the crop for fallowing and cleaning pur- 

 poses, it is, of course, the only admissible method. Ridg- 

 ing adds somewhat to the tillage expense of the crop; it 

 however gives earlier and greater facilities for horse-hoeing, 

 and is so far advisable where the land is foul and the 

 soil and climate such as not likely to become too dry for 

 the healthy growth of the plants. When any doubt 

 exists as to these points, it is best to drill on the flat. The 

 distance between the rows is generally less than that 

 recommended for turnips 15 to 18 inches is probably the 

 best width ; that admits of all the tillage operations neces- 



