338 PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 



matter for the use of farm stock. It should be remarked, al- 

 so, that there are varieties in this root. The best have a yel- 

 lowish look, globular form, and have no neck or stem. The 

 green and yellow kinds often prove abortive. The seed 

 should be black and full. One pound will suffice for an 

 acre of land. One half a pound will produce plants enough 

 for an acre ; but as the seed is liable to fail, a pound is not 

 too much to ensure a crop. 



The time for sowing is from the 20th of June to the 5th of 

 July. 



The soil best adapted to turnips, is a light, dry and 

 friable loam ; or almost any dry soil, with the exception of 

 heavy clays. 



The soil is best prepared by throwing it into drills 8 feet 

 apart, filling the drills with short manure or compost, and af- 

 ter covering it with a plough, two furrows on each side, sow 

 with a drill-barrow, p. 335. The ruta baga flourishes best 

 on a clover ley, and may be sowed after the first crop of clo- 

 ver is taken. If long manure is applied, it should be covered 

 with a plough. If rotted, it should be placed under the seed, 

 so that the roots will penetrate it. The plants generally 

 make their appearance in 8 or 10 days after sowing ; they 

 should then be horse-hoed with the cultivator, and the soil 

 should be removed as near to the plants as possible, in order 

 to destroy the weeds. The hoe should then be employed, 

 and the plants thinned to a distance of 8 or 10 inches. 



The quality of this crop depends upon the size ; and what 

 is rather remarkable, the larger they are the more nutriment 

 they possess in proportion to their weight. 



Gathering. The roots may be easily drawn with the hand. 

 The tops and tap-roots should be cut off, and they should be 

 permitted to dry on the ground, until the dirt may be sepa- 

 rated from them. They should then be stored in pits, 3 feet 

 in breadth, and covered with a good thickness of earth. The 

 value of this crop is variously estimated by different farmers. 



