THE TURNIP CROP. 313 



concerned, We have before us drawings of roots which 

 were taken from our own fields, the shapes of which are of 

 the most grotesque character ; and one point has struck 

 us, that in roots of abnormal growth, the healthy nutritious 

 character of the root seems greatly changed for the worse. 

 A contorted root is almost always hard, woody, and knotty. 

 We have alluded to the fact that in. root-plants, some are 

 more vigorous than others, in all cases this is marked ; in 

 some districts the biggest and most vigorous is called the 

 " king " plant, and is that which if left in the ground, all 

 others being thinned away from it, will prove to be the 

 largest and the finest root. The above are not here 

 given as new facts, nor are they for the first time 

 published; but they nevertheless are worth remembering, 

 and assuredly they are sometimes forgot, if one is to judge 

 by the way which in practice the singling of root-plants is 

 carried out ; and their statement is here justified, seeing 

 that they exercise a close nay, the closest influence upon 

 the practice of singling, and also upon that question which 

 has been discussed of late, and is still being discussed 

 namely,. the application of mechanism to it. We have no 

 hesitation whatever in endorsing the opinion of the most 

 eminent practical authority now living, which is to the 

 effect that turnip or root singling, is not a process to which 

 mechanism can be applied. For if there is any truth in 

 the statements we have put forward, and it will be difficult, 

 we opine, to say they are incorrect, it must be abundantly 

 evident that a large exercise of mental care is demanded 

 on the part of the workman, if he or she does the work of 

 thinning as it ought to be done. For three points at least 

 demand attention the strongest plant, if possible, ought 

 to be left, while the weakest should be cleared away ; 

 secondly, each plant should have the maximum space of 

 soil to develope its bulb in ; and thirdly, no two plants 

 should be left together to interfere with the individual 

 growth of each. Now we do not say that this standard of 

 perfection in root-crop thinning can be obtained in practice, 

 but we insist that it is a true standard, and further, that 



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