TURNIP. 



more bout-ridges ; but the light rolling mode is much the 

 neateil, moll convenient, and ready manner of executing 

 ■the work. 



There are different other modes and praftices of perform- 

 ing the bufinefs of putting in the feed, in the ridged-up and 

 drill manners made ufe of in different places ; but as they 

 are not common, or of much praftical importance, they 

 need not be mentioned here. 



In putting in the feed of turnip crops in this way, a great 

 number of different kinds of drill-fowing implements and 

 contrivances are made ufe of ; but thofe wrought by horfes, 

 and which are fo formed and attached in their different pans, 

 as to perform all or moft of the feveral operations of the 

 procefs at the fame time, are, in general, the moft proper 

 and convenient for the purpofe. Whatever contrivance of 

 this nature is, however, employed, it is conltantly necefTary 

 to take care that the feed be regularly delivered and put into 

 the foil ; as from the fmallnefs of the perforations in the re- 

 volving cylinders of moft of them, the feeds are hable to be 

 obftruCted in pafTmg, and the regularity of the delivery and 

 fowing thereby prevented. 



Every diilrift has moftly its favourite drill-fowing imple- 

 ment for this purpofe. In the firft of the above, they, for the 

 moft part, make ufe of a tool of this fort for fowing turnips, 

 which has a cylinder or fmall barrel of white iron or copper, 

 and that is mounted on an axle with two wheels. The bar- 

 rel is perforated with holes at equal diftances, and as it turns 

 round with the wheels, the feed falls equally out, and ex- 

 adtly in a ftraight line. This cylinder and wheels are hxed 

 to a light frame-work, wliich has two ftilts, and is kept on 

 the top of the ridge or drill by them, by a man or boy, who 

 walks behind, as in managing a common plough. Before 

 the cylinder there is faftencd to the frame-work a fort of 

 coulter, which makes a kind of fmall rut-like opening for 

 the feed, and behind is fixed a rake with two or three teeth, 

 which mixes the feed that is dropped with the mould of the 

 foil, and covers it ; and as the horfe and implement return 

 by the next fuiTOw or interval to the right or left, the oppo- 

 fite end of the roller rolls the ridge fown, and compreffes or 

 flattens the top of tliat on which the fowing implement fol- 

 lows. When it is neceiTary to do much work at a time, two 

 fowing tools are had recourfe to, wliich follow the fame 

 roller, and fow two ridges at once, and the feed is rolled in 

 by a fecond roller. 



An improved tool of this kind has been invented, which 

 flattens txvo ridges or drills, forms the little ruts or openings 

 on their tops, puts in the feed, and covers it in all at the 

 fame time, by which much favingin tools and labour is made. 

 It is a very complete implement for fowing in the raifed 

 drill or ridge method, it is made and much ufed in Ber- 

 wickdiire. 



Sometimes the roller ufed for the feed in thefe cafes is a 

 kind of low broad wheel, which is attached to the fowing 

 tool, and rolls only on the track or rut where the feed is put 

 in, which may anfwer where the work is on a fmall fcale. 



On fine land, fully prepared with reduced dungy matter, 

 and on which it is confidered unnecelfary to horle-hoe, a 

 fowing implement of this fort is fometimes ufed, which is 

 attached to the common fwing-plough ; and one tool foUovv- 

 ing the other, the feed is fown in rows, at a regulated dif- 

 tance and depth. This tool and mode of fowing anfwer 

 well in fuch cafes, and are much employed in fome parts of 

 Yorkfhire. 



In cafes where powdery fnbftances of the rape-cake, or 

 other fuch kinds, are to be put in as manure with the turnip- 

 feed, in this way, a fowing implement of this fort has latfly 

 been contrived and had recourfe to in fome of the louthern 



turnip dillrids, with much utility and benefit. It fows the 

 feed and duft in regular lines and quantities, on two ridges at 

 the fame time, the horfe pafTiiig in tlie furrow or interval be- 

 tween them. This is effefted by having proper cups and 

 funnels for depofiting the cake in addition to the other parts, 

 as feen above. It is a very complete and ufeful tool for the 

 purpofe. 



Where, however, the feed is to be fown in the drill man- 

 ner on the level furface, without its being raifed in ridges, as 

 is the pra6\icc in fome diftrifts, efpecially when formed at 

 narrow diftances, as not more than twelve or thirteen inches 

 apart, the larger contrivances of this fort, which fow a 

 number of rows or drills at the fame time, may be the moft 

 proper and advantageous, as being more quick in performing 

 the work. There are many other implements of the fame 

 kind, which are ufeful, and fuited to different cafes of fowing 

 in this way. See Turnip-Z)W//. 



In whatever manner turnip-feed is put into the ground, 

 experience has fhewn that it is of much confequence to have 

 it done in fuch a way, and under fuch circumftances, as 

 that the germination and early growth of it may be in as 

 ready a manner as poiTible, as upon this a great deal in the 

 goodnefs of the crops depends, as has been already feen. 

 It has been fuppofed by fome that the feed, in order to fe- 

 cure thefe effefts in the moll certain manner, fhould be put 

 into the foil to the depth of three or more inches ; and that 

 the fuperiority of the drill method of fowing partly arifes 

 from the feed being placed to a greater depth, and growing 

 more rapidly, on account of having more moifture, fo as to 

 have the plants become fooner out of danger from infefts, or 

 other fuch caufes of deftruftion ; while others think, from 

 thefe circumftances, that it fhould be covered in only in a 

 light manner. 



A late able praftical writer, however, fuggefts, that as 

 air is neceffary as well as moillure to the vegetation of feeds 

 when placed in the ground, it wQuld feem probable that the 

 quick fprouting and growth of fuch crops may be the beft 

 and moft effeftually fecured, by only putting them into a 

 middling depth, and according as the particular nature of 

 the land, and ftate of the feafon may be, as from an inch 

 and a half to about two inches, as the foil or fe.ifon may be 

 incUned to be wet or the contrary. In this way, it is be- 

 lieved, the inconveniences arifing from the feed being too 

 much parched and dried by its being expofed near the fur- 

 face, and from the want of tlie aAion of the air on account 

 of its too great depth, may be equally avoided. As crops 

 of this fort are, for the moft part, put into the earth during 

 the hotter months, there is another circumftance that may be 

 of equal confequence, it is fuppofed, in promoting the 

 quick ftiooting and growth of the young plants ; which is, 

 that the feed, efpecially in fuch hot feafons, be well imbued 

 with moifture by foaking it, and confequently with the oxy- 

 gene principle of the air, as already fuggefted, before it is 

 committed to the ground ; as by fuch means, there will be lefs 

 required to be drawn from the mould of the foil which fur- 

 rounds the feed, and the procefs of vegetation almoft imme- 

 diately takes place. Sir George Staunton, in his account 

 of the " Embatfy to China," as well as Mr. GiUet, in the 

 " Bath Papers," have likewife afcribed the prcfervation of 

 turnip-crops in that country as well as this chiefly to this 

 praftice ; and by it good crops of this fort may often be pro- 

 duced, where they would otherwife almoft wholly tail. And 

 the correftnefs of the praaice and principles on which it de- 

 pends, is further ftipported by the luccefs of the general cui- 

 tomof puttinjr in thefe crops on the moift, new or frelh turned- 

 np mould. Some intercfting and ufeful obferv.at.ons and 

 experir^ents on the fhooting and growth of tornip-teed, may 



