306 CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



the ploughing ; the weeds are loosened and dragged to the 

 surface, the roller and the harrows being employed to crush 

 the clods and collect the weeds. The grubber is next used 

 lengthwise, when the harrows and roller are used as before, 

 the processes being repeated at due intervals till the ground 

 is sufficiently prepared for being sown with the crop. 

 Drills are opened with one furrow of the common plough ; 

 the dung is spread in the intervals and covered by one 

 furrow, as in opening the drills, and the turnip seed sown 

 on the fresh tilth. When artificial manures are used, 

 ridglets are made by one furrow of the common plough, 

 and Hornsby's drop drill splits the ridglets deeply with a 

 long coulter, : and deposits from a funnel the manure and 

 seeds mixed in bulbs at the distance of nine inches where 

 the plants stand in crop. This process being quickly 

 done, and as soon as the drills are made, prevents eva- 

 poration, and secures fresh tilth to the seeds. By sowing 

 the flat ground the seed is deposited among a dry dust on 

 the surface of the ground. In this way it is deposited 

 deeply among newly-moved earth, which is rolled imme- 

 diately, and the moisture locked in the soil. The soil 

 being entirely wrought by the grubber, is not turned up as 

 by the plough to the exposure of drought ; the weeds are 

 dragged to the surface by the round tines of the grubber, 

 in place of being cut by the sharp coulter of the plough. 

 The moisture is retained in the earth, and kept under- 

 ground, and, when exposed to the air by one furrow of 

 drilling, is ready to exert those agencies that result from 

 the exposure of concealed substances to the contact of at- 

 mospheric influence. The whole success of turnip farming, 

 under any external circumstances, depends entirely on the 

 presence of moisture. Water has been artificially applied 

 for the use of young turnips, but most unsuccessfully ; lands 

 wholly finished with, being dunged and sown with turnip 

 seeds, have been watered from the pipe and holes of a water- 

 cart, but very injuriously for the intended purpose. When 

 water or moisture is applied in any way or quantity to soils 

 or earthy matters, a clotted concretion is formed, which is 



