FlNGER-AND-TOE IN TURNIPS. 



149 



successful is to arrange the rotation in such a way that a turnip 

 or similar crop does not occupy the land oftener than once in 

 eight years. In the four course shift, for instance, it may be 

 possible to put half the fallow break under potatoes or man- 

 golds ; and if this is done intelligently turnips will not come on 

 the same land oftener than once in eight years, and this should 

 effectually banish finger-and-toe. A similar result will be got 

 by leaving land in grass for three or four years. Needless to 

 say, no such method of prevention will have much effect unless 

 farmers also take care to avoid carting diseased turnips or 

 tainted dung on to such fields. 



Experiments have shown that acid manures encourage finger- 

 and-toe, and this fact should be borne in mind in the cultivation 

 of land that exhibits a tendency to this disease. The best 

 phosphatic manure to use, under these circumstances, is basic 

 slag or precipitated phosphate. 



Of late years several so-called disease-proof turnips have 

 been put on the market, and though all arc certainly not 

 immune from disease, some are markedly resistant.* 



* Copies of this article may be obtained in leaflet form, free of charge and post 

 free, on application to the Secretary, Board of Agriculture, 4, Whitehall Place, 

 London, S.W. Letters of application so addressed need not be stamped. 



