18 



along by the side of each ridge, and put down two or three 

 seeds in places at about ten inches from each other, just draw- 

 ing a little earth over, and pressing it on the seed^ in order to 

 make it vegetate quickly, before the earth became too dry. 

 But, he adds, the seven acres might have been sown by one man 

 in a day, by just scattering the seeds along on the top of the 

 ridge, where they might have been buried with a rake, and pres- 

 sed down with a spade or shovel, or other flat instrument. But 

 he used a light roller, to take two ridges at once, the horse 

 walking in the gutter between. 



The time of sowing the seeds must vary with the climate. 

 On Long Island (State of New-York) Mr. Cobbett's trials of one 

 year led him to prefer the 26th of June : but in our own coun- 

 ty, I would not pass the middle of that month. Indeed I thinkr 

 it expedient (in order to ascertain the fittest time) to commence 

 sowing the seed as soon as the ground can be prepared after 

 the planting of Indian corn, ahd to continue to sow, in small 

 plots, weekly, until the middle of June. 



As soon as the plants are fairly up, hoes and the fingers are 

 to be used, taking out all the plants but one in each ten or 

 twelve inches. As soon as weeds appear, hoeing is to com- 

 mence, hoeing the tops of the ridges to the width of about six 

 inches, showing the plants distinct and clean. Then the plough 

 is introduced, taking a furrow from the side of one ridge, going 

 up the field, a furrow from the other ridge coming down, then 

 another furrow from the same side of the first ridge going up, 

 and another furrow from the same side of the other ridge com- 

 ing down. In taking away the last two furrows, you go within 

 three inches of the turnip plants. Thus a ridge is formed over 

 the original gutter. The next process is, to turn these furrows 

 back again to the turnips. This hoeing and ploughing is to be 

 repeated, when the appearance of the weeds requires it ; and af- 

 terwards, the few weeds which may rise are to be hoed or pull- 

 ed up. '■ In this way Mr. Cobbett thinks a thousand bushels of 

 Ruta Baga may be raised on an acre that will yield fifty bushels 

 of Indian corn. 



In describing the culture of the Mangel Wurtzel, transplanting- 

 fvas mentioned, to fill vacant places. The same may be prac- 



