292 



On the Farming of Suffolk. 



hoeing their flat drilled turnips, and it is a practice very likely to 

 increase ; as^ in addition to the advantages derived from the pul- 

 verization of the soil and the destruction of weeds, the process of 

 hand-hoeing is rendered easier and more effective. Garrett's 

 lever-hoe is used by many farmers on the light land of East Suffolk. 

 One gentleman, who farms 2200 acres, hoes turnips both between 

 and across the drills, cutting out the plants at regular intervals ; 

 these are singled by hand and then hand-hoed. In the first hand- 

 hoeing, or singling of the turnips, the hoer is often followed by a 

 girl or boy to single the turnips left by the hoe. In about a fort- 

 night the turnips are hoed a second time, the cost of both opera- 

 tions being about 65. an acre. 



Carrots are either sown broadcast or drilled. The land being 

 ploughed deep or subsoiled, farm-yard manure is seldom used, as it 

 makes the roots fangy. The management of the carrot-crop is 

 frequently by contract labour ; the contractor finding seed, sow- 

 ing, hoeing, taking up and storing the crop : for this he takes half 

 the crop, or is paid 2d. per bushel. About 5 lbs. of seed is sown 

 to the acre in April, the seeds being first mixed with dry sand to 

 ensure its delivery. As soon as the young plants can be distin- 

 guished, the weeds are hoed with a small hoe about 

 3 inches wide, having a handle little more than a 

 foot in length ; this is a very slow and tedious opera- 

 tion. In a short time the carrots are set out at 

 about 6 or 7 inches apart with a wider tool, and 

 again hoed about the latter end of July. The cost 

 of hoeing varies from 2O5. to 305. per acre. The 

 carrots are taken up in October or November ; 

 men and women take them up with forks, or with a spoon- 

 shaped tool ; children cut the tops off as they are taken up. 



They are then laid in long heaps, either 

 in the field, or carted to some convenient 

 spot ; these heaps are about 3 feet wide at 

 bottom, and 2^ feet high. They are first 

 covered with straw, and then with earth, 

 except the ridge, which is covered with 

 straw only. In the spring the stored car- 

 rots require looking over. The tops are folded with sheep. 



Drilling carrots is practised by some, and has several advantages 

 over broadcast, as, first, it lessens the cost of hoeing; secondly, the 

 carrots are singled at wider intervals, consequently they produce a 

 heavier crop, as the roots are larger and the carrots being at greater 

 distances apart the taking up is not so expensive. Before drilling 

 the seed is mixed with sand, bran, or other substances to divide 

 the seed. One farmer uses powdered wood-charcoal ; the latter 

 produces a quick vegetation of the seed, and also prevents it from 



Section of Heap. 



