sect. IV. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 199 



this, it has been recommended to pull all the 

 turnip before the month of December, and, af- 

 ter cutting off the leaves, to pile them up in con- 

 venient heaps, covering them with straw. This 

 is, no doubt, a laborious business ; but the plan 

 is surely very proper, as, at the same time that 

 the turnips suffer nothing in their quality for 

 feeding, the land is saved from being cut and 

 injured by the carts in wet weather. It should 

 be observed, however, that as the leaves are ex- 

 cellent food, and therefore ought not to be lost ; 

 and as they will soon become unfit for use after 

 they are cut, the turnip ought to be drawn and 

 piled up, no faster than the leaves can be con^ 

 sumed in a fresh state. At all rates, turnip 

 should never be allowed to remain on the ground 

 after the beginning, or at farthest, after the mid- 

 dle of March. After that time they begin to 

 flower, grow hard and sticky, and make bad 

 food, and at the same time greatly impoverish 

 the ground. Whatever quantity remains uncon-r 

 sumed at that time, ought to be pulled and piled 

 up, as before directed. In this way the turnip 

 will be preserved in good condition for feeding, 

 the ground will not be injured, and time will be 

 allowed for giving it the necessary number of 

 furrows before putting in the succeeding crop, 



FLAX. 



THE liberal encouragement, given by the 

 BOARD of TRUSTEES for introducing and ex- 

 tending the culture of Flax in Scotland, has been 

 very successful in Fife : there being few counties, 



