State of Agricu lture in Northumhi rland. 



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as I have previously stated, upon the value of the land and the 

 well-doinof of all who possess and are connected with it. The 

 process of preparing land for turnip sowing is so nearly the same 

 in all districts as scarcely to require notice : when lime is applied, 

 it is frequently spread upon the stubble soon after harvest and 

 ploughed lightly in, which ploughing is succeeded by a deeper 

 one in a contrary direction, by which the lime is intimately mixed 

 with the soil without being placed too deep, to which it has a 

 tendency ; by applying it at this season, less work is left to be done 

 in spring when it is of more importance, and the risk of injuring 

 the growth of the plants, which sometimes follows the application 

 of quicklime in a dry season immediately before sowing, is 

 avoided. The land is stirred in the spring with more or less 

 frequency, according as its natural friability or adhesiveness renders 

 it necessary, the object being to clear it of couch and weeds by 

 picking them off after each process of ploughing and harrowing, 

 or rolling and scarifying, and to keep it in a state of the finest 

 pulverization possible. Swedish turnips are commonly sown in 

 the latter part of May (although as good a crop as T ever saw was 

 sown on the 15th June), and white turnips through all the m.onth 

 of June. The proportion of swede to white turnips varies from 

 J to \, according to the quality of soil and supply of manure : a 

 good crop of swedes is much more valuable than an equally good 

 crop of white turnips, but better land and more dung are required 

 to produce it ; and inferior land will produce a tolerable crop of 

 white, which would not bring forward swede turnips at all. The 

 selection of the kinds m.ost suitable to soil and situation is matter 

 for the exercise of individual judgment in every distinct case. 

 Turnip culture is like gardening upon a large scale ; the land 

 ought to be in such a state of pulverization for the reception of so 

 small a seed and of the manure, as to fall from the plough like 

 meal. Every operation connected with it requires great nicety, 

 and where so much work as the sov\'ing of 100 acres or more 

 upon a farm is to be done in so short a period, men and cattle 

 are stimulated to the utmost pitch of energy and activity. The 

 process, when conducted on a large scale, presents a scene of un- 

 common animation and interest, and might afford to Adam Smith 

 himself an apt illustration of the advantage of the division of labour. 

 The occupier of a small farm, with force in proportion, cannot 

 avail himself of this advantage ; the various operations must be 

 performed with the same men and horses ; much time is lost in 

 the frequent changes from plough to cart and back again during 

 the day : land and manure are exposed injuriously to the sun, and 

 the work at once expensively and inefficiently performed ; but the 

 farmer whose force is adequate to conduct the whole process at 

 once, makes his arrangement so that no part of it can stand still 



