284 



Faryning of East Lothian, 



going on tlirough November. In November and December a 

 portion of the yellows and swedes is also stored. Previous to 

 removal from the field the roots and tops are cut off, and, in 

 doing this, the person so drops the roots as to allow the pas- 

 sage of a cart for their removal. To clear a field speedily, a 

 number of single carts, according to the distance they have to 

 be carted, are yoked. Female labourers are usually employed 

 to fill the carts, men and boys driving them. Tiie roots are 

 stored generally in oblong pits, about 6 feet at the base, tapering 

 to a top. A covering of straw is put over them : sometimes this 

 is secured by ropes, especially if windy and frosty weather is 

 expected. The removing of the crop from the field for being 

 consumed by cattle goes on during the winter and spring when- 

 ever the weather admits of it. It is always considered advisable^ 

 however, to have the land cleared by the middle of March. It 

 is found that turnips are more nutritious if they are allowed to 

 remain in the ground and not long stored ; the white varieties 

 suffering most from storing, the swedes least. 



Of the swede several varieties are grown. The Green Top was 

 introduced, about 1785, from Gottenburg, being the first swede 

 grown in Scotland, and first raised on the farm of Lawhead, East 

 Lothian. It is a somewhat curious circumstance that, when the 

 swede was first cultivated in this country, the seed was sown 

 in beds, and the young plants removed to the fields, the trans- 

 planting being similar to what is done with cabbages. At first^ 

 this variety was esteemed more for the tops than the roots, they 

 having been generally allowed to remain in the ground till they 

 came partially into flower, and given to stock just previous to the 

 grass season. The Purple Top was selected from this variety, 

 and is by many preferred to the Green Top. Several other 

 varieties have been introduced into the county ; Laing's, Fet- 

 tercairn's, both almost now unknown, having proved very inferior 

 varieties ; Skirving's, and a still more esteemed variety, obtained 

 from Suffolk about 10 years ago, Curwen's. Of yellows, the 

 first grown in the county, and introduced shortly after the swede,, 

 was propagated by Mr. Carnegie of the Hailes, being a hybrid 

 between the original swede and the White Globe. Dale's hybrid, 

 once much esteemed, is now seldom grown. Aberdeen and 

 Skirving's Purple Top Yellow are the present favourites, along 

 with the original variety. Of the whites, the Globe is the most 

 generally grown. A Green Top variety obtained from England 

 some years ago is also esteemed. Another Green Top variety, 

 tankard-shaped, was introduced about six years ago from Here- 

 fordshire. Owing to the nature of the climate, the whites 

 require to be stored before Christmas, except where they are- 

 not full grown ; frosts being liable to injure their feeding qualities. 



