284 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



he increases also the produce of the cereals. And in 

 this we see the beautiful mutuality of dependence in 

 all the processes of modern farming, which is set forth 

 in the converse of the proverb or saying, "No green 

 food, no cattle ; no cattle, no manure ; no manure, no 

 corn." 



88. Of the history of the turnip much can be said, al- 

 though, unfortunately, of what can be said much is con- 

 jectural, so far, at least, as the history of its introduction 

 into this country is concerned. Of the place it occupied 

 in ancient farming amongst the Greeks and Romans we 

 have, in the writings of authors of these people, abundant 

 evidence. Under the names of " rapa " and " napus," 

 Columella and other writers tell us much that is interest- 

 ing, and even at this day practically valuable, respecting 

 the crop, and in what high esteem it was held by the 

 ancients so high, indeed, that, after the vine and corn, 

 it took the third place in the rank of farm crops. We 

 have said, that much of what the ancient authors wrote 

 about the culture of the turnip crop is practically valuable 

 as well as interesting. Thus, on points connected with 

 the choice and addition of manure, and the kind and pre- 

 paration of the soil, we find that what is said amongst us 

 to be the latest and most advanced practice, was known 

 and practised -by them hundreds of years ago. The very 

 means which are now advocated by our best authorities to 

 prevent the ravages of the "fly," which was too well known 

 to the ancients, are precisely those which were used by 

 them. 



89. As to the date of the introduction of the turnip into 

 this country we have no authentic information. There is 

 every reason to suppose that it was introduced by the 

 Romans, but that its culture was confined for a long time 

 with us to the garden. The monks, doubtless to whom, 

 indeed, we owe the conservation as well as the discovery 

 of many new plants and processes paid considerable at- 

 tention to the crop, and by them we are inclined to think 

 it was first introduced into field culture. This must, at 



