270 TtJRNIPS. 



Prefervation of ftraw, about ten inclies in diameter, placed horizontally on 

 thrwnter""^ ^^^ ground or boulders, and introduced, as wanted, during 

 the operatiori of ftacking. A tire of the largeft turnips are 

 placed one above another, on the infide of the bundles of 

 flraw, more particularly on tl^e fide guarded by the flakes, 

 till the pile reaches the height of five feet from the ground, 

 or from the boulders, if it has been found neceflary to fpread 

 any over the ground. The inner part of the flack is at the 

 fame time gradually made up with turnips put in promif- 

 cuoufly; along wlijch a plank is laid, and occafionally fhifted 

 as the pile rifes, for the man who builds the (lack to fland 

 on without bruiting the turnips with his (hoes. When the 

 pile of turnips is reared, in the manner defcribed, to the 

 height of above five feet, it is gradually contraded inwards, 

 on both fides, at an angle of about forty-five degrees, like 

 the roof of a barn ; the largeft turnips being llill piled on 

 the outfide, till the roof is fo far completed. The flack is 

 every day fo far finiflied in height as it is extended in length, 

 and is covered vvith wheat draw thatch, roped down with 

 twifted bands of oat- ftraw before evening, to fecure the 

 ftacked turnips from rain that may fall during the night. The 

 thatch is laid on a foot thick, and fecured in the fame fimple, 

 effeflual manner, that corn-ricks are covered in Northumber- 

 land, Berwickfhire, and the Lothians ; with this difference 

 only, that the ftraw is four times as thick laid on the turnip 

 as on the corn, to exclude cold as well as wet ; and that 

 there Is a rail Of wood ftretched, hanging horizontally at the 

 tops of the wall and ftakes, to fix the ftraw ropes to, which 

 fecure the thatch on the ftack. The end of the ftack is every 

 night covered with bundles of wheat-ftraw, which are removed 

 next day, or when building recommences. 



Three men are employed in the field to load and difpatch 

 the carts, occafionally affifting four women who draw the 

 turnips, ftriking off* the top root with a ftrong heavy knife, 

 leaving the turnips on the tops of the drills as drawn and 

 chopped, with the leaves all in one direftion, to be readily 

 laid hold of by the men who lift them up to the cart. The 

 horfes pafs along in the fpace between the two rows or drills 

 of the turnips, which may be drawn : and, being at thirty 

 inches apart, and the extremities of the wheels about five 

 ''teet from each other, it is evident a wheel runs in ihe middle 



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