162 



On Drawing Turnips. 



and such is the mode also in covering the manure with the mould- 

 ing-plough^ and then dropping the turnip-seed so as to fall imme- 

 diately above it. In order to provide the manure, however, for 

 this judicious application of management, it must be collected into 

 a mass ; it must be placed under the control of the farmer to be 

 divided and directed in the most effective manner — not scattered 

 to the winds — not to be exhausted by the evaporation of a scorch- 

 ing summer sun ! Now, when turnips are consumed on the land, it 

 is clear that the droppings of animals must be accidental, without 

 regard to proper distribution or direction. Thus even also with 

 regard to sheep, which are of such vast importance to the improve- 

 ment of turnip land : their predilection for the sheltering fence 

 will not unfrequently betray the partial distribution of the im- 

 provement they leave. With regard to clay soils, however, which 

 are referred to more particularly, and which may at times bring a 

 crop of turnips, it seldom happens that the nature of the soil will 

 admit of the turnips being eaten off by sheep, and if consumed by 

 other stock, the management from such eating must be partial, 

 scanty, and inadequate. Were the crop, however, carted home, 

 and consumed by the various cattle in the straw-yard, or the feed- 

 ing-shed, or by milch cows, it would, by its admixture with other 

 food, and by its conversion through the process of digestion into 

 manure, far more than compensate for the loss of the turnips not 

 being consumed on the land. In the straw-yard, also, it must be 

 remembered, that the manure is collected into a mass, and can in 

 that state be divided and applied with the greatest precision and 

 effect. It may be stated here, that, in regard to lands which admit 

 of turnips being eaten off by sheep, the more profitable mode of 

 consumption appears to be, to draw and carry home about one- 

 half of the crop for consumption in the fold-yard, stables, and 

 sheds ; the remainder of the crop (and particularly of Swedes) 

 will supply an abundance of excellent food for sheep. Swedes may 

 also be sown early in May ; and this early sowing gives the oppor- 

 tunity of a second sowing, in case of failure. That man, who has 

 once known the value of a crop of Swedes, will never fail to con- 

 tinue the growing of them : they supply plenty of good food for 

 stock, both at home and abroad. There has been a patent turnip- 

 cutter lately introduced by Gardner, which, with but little labour, 

 does the work admirably, and which enables even lambs to feed 

 off Swede turnips with advantage. 



Proceeding to the fourth division of the subject — as to the com- 

 parative progress of stock in fattening or thriving, when con- 

 suming drawn turnips, or those still on the land" — all persons 

 conversant with the feeding of stock are aware of the great advan- 

 tage of giving a proper variety of food to beasts put up for that 

 purpose. The process of digestion, as well as the proper tone of 



