TURNIP. 



thought ufeful againR the latter. This laft too, as well as 

 the tobacco mixture, has been tried with benefit againft the 

 black caterpillar, a bufh-harrow being previoufly paffed 

 over the crop to diflodge the infefts. The barley -chaff is 

 to be applied over the crop on their firft appearance. 



A great variety of other means has been propofed in 

 thefe intentions, but probably with no very great fuccefs. 

 See BLACK-Canier, Slug, and TvRmp-Fly, Preven- 

 tion of. 



In turnip crops, the roots of the plants are liable to 

 have a large fort of excrefcencc formed below the fmall 

 apples or bulbs, which, after becoming in a flate ot fome- 

 thing like maturity, takes on the putrid procefs, and fends 

 forth a moft offenfive fmell. Plants in this condition are 

 moftly ftunted in their growth, and the crops indifferent. 

 It is faid to depend on foil, and that the foils of fome tur- 

 nip diftriAs are fubjeft to it until they have been clayed 

 or marled, which is almoll a certain remedy for it. This is 

 the cafe with Norfolk ; the foil is perhaps too light. The 

 knobs often contain a fmall worm in the centres of them, 

 which may be the caufe. Taking out the affefted plants 

 and ftirring the eaith about the others may be ufeful. See 

 Anbury. 



On fome thin light foils too, efpecially in dry feafons, 

 thefe crops are fometimes liable to be affetted with a fort of 

 white mouldy ftate, which injures and checks the growth of 

 the young plants greatly ; the chief means of removing 

 which, is that of proper thinning and ftirring the mould 

 about the roots of the plants. When it occurs in deeper 

 foils, benefit may be derived from rendering them more dry 

 by deeper furrowing between the ridges. See Mildew. 



Turnip-plants often fend off numerous ftringy roots 

 with knobby lumps at the ends of them, which are liable 

 to decay and come to nothing, or what farmers term 

 fingers and toes, inftead of bottling or forming bulbs. 

 This moftly happens in new or fre(h land, and no mode 

 of preventing it has probably yet been difcovercd. Uti- 

 lity in fuch cafes may, however, be derived from better 

 tiUage and preparation. 



Where thefe crops have been deftroyed by the fly, or in 

 other ways, the fame lands (hould not be refown without a 

 flight ploughing, as is too often the praftice, as there muil 

 always be great danger of the crops of the fecond fowinsr 

 in fuch cafes. It is better either to leave the land wholly 

 for wheat, or to give a (hallow ploughing or fcuffling before 

 the turnip-feed is again put in. Tranfplanting is faid to 

 liave been employed with benefit in fuch cafes, as the young 

 turnip plant is found to fucceed in this way. 



The feafons moft favourable to crops of this fort, are 

 thofe in which the weather is warm and fhowery, witliout 

 much continued rain. In the autumn and winter periods, 

 when the changes from frofts to thaws are frequent with 

 rain, the roots are hable to much injury, by becoming de- 

 cayed and rotten ; and where they ftand well in them, fcldom 

 afford the quantity of nourifhment and fupport for ftock 

 that may be fed on them that is ufual under other circum- 

 ftances. They are Liable too to be much hurt in the winter 

 feafon by the wounds and punftures made in them by dif- 

 ferent forts of birds, as wood-pigeons, rooks, and fome 

 others ; againft which they fhould be guarded as much as 

 pofQble. 



The expences of raifing crqps of this fort muft neceffarily 

 vary confiderably according to the nature of the foil, the 

 crops which they fucceed, the methods of putting them 

 into the ground, the fituation, and many other circumftances 

 of different kinds ; but in the ridge or drill praiitice, they 

 may in many cafes ftand in tliis way. 



In the broad-caft practice, the expences may moftly per- 

 haps be a little lower than in the above eftimate. 



It is in moft cafes the praftice to fow barley after turnip 

 crops, but in fome northern diftrifts, wheat, and other crops 

 with feeds, are occafionally put in after them, when fed off 

 with iheep, and cleared early on one ploughing. 



The quantity of produce or food for ftock which is 

 afforded by crops of this fort, muft, of courfe, differ much 

 according to the differences of feafon, the nature of the 

 foil, and the mode of culture that is purfued ; but a me- 

 dium crop, where the land is good and fuited to the purpofe, 

 may afford fifteen tons or more on the acre ; in many cafes, 

 however, it will be much lefs. The value of fuch crops 

 muft depend upon many different circumftances, as tlieir 

 quality and abundance, the manner in which they can be 

 confumed, as on the land, or in cribs and ftalls, in feeding 

 or rearing live-ftock of different forts, and on the ftate of 

 the market for the fale of fuch ftock ; but in common, it 

 may be from about three or four to fix or feven pounds the 

 acre, and in fome cafes confiderably more, as ten and up- 

 wards. An acre of good turnips will fatten a beaft of 

 forty ftone and more, or about eight fheep. 



Seeding Crops In raifing crops for feed, which is the 



produce of the fecond year's growth of the plant, confider- 

 able attention is neceffary in the view of producing fuch as 

 is good ; as when it is collefted from fuch crops as have 

 been fown three or four years in fucceffion, \vithout tranf- 

 planting, the roots are liable to be numerous and long, and 

 the necks, or parts between the bulbs and leaves, coarfe and 

 thick ; and when taken from fuch as have been tranfplanted 

 every year, thefe parts are apt to become too fine, with too 

 great a diminution of the tap-roots. The beft and moil 

 certain way is, therefore, to take feed from turnip plants 

 that have been tranfplanted one year, and fown the next ; 

 or tranfplanting once in three years is fuppofed by fome 

 fufficient for preferving it good. The moft fuitable manner 

 of performing this is to fele6t fuch turnips as are the hardieft, 

 the beft of their kinds, and that have the moft perfeft forms, 

 from the common crops ; and after cutting their tops off, to 

 tranfplant or remove them, in the latter end of the autumn, 

 into ground that has been wtU prepared for them, where 

 birds can be kept off. The feed will become ready for 

 gathering towards the clofe of the enfuing fummer. Some 

 prefer that the feeds taken from a few roots, tranfplanted in 

 this manner, ftiould be preferved and fown in the drill me- 

 thod, for the purpofe of providing plants for affording feed 

 for the general crops, taking out all fuch as are weak and 

 improper, leaving only thofe that are ftrong, and which 

 have the beft growth ; and that when thefe have appkd, or 

 formed bulbs, to again take out fuch as do not appear 

 good and perfed ; as, by this means, turnip-feed may be 

 •J procured. 



