Farming of Northamptonshire, 



53 



manured with lon^ dung from the farm-yard. Early in tfie 

 spring it is cross-ploughed, and in the months of May and June 

 is again ploughed and scufHed, harrowed and rolled. All twitch 

 grass and roots of weeds are carefully forked out, and removed or 

 burnt, and it is got into a fine tillage. Where it has not been 

 manured in the autumn, about 16 or 20 tons or loads of dung per 

 acre are laid upon it before receiving the last ploughing ; or in 

 some cases the manure is applied in May and the land ploughed 

 twice afterwards. Swede turnips are generally drilled on the 

 surface, from 14 to 18 inches apart, directly after the last plough- 

 ing, about the latter end of May or during the month of June. 

 As soon as the rows can be well distinguished, they are flat-hoed 

 between the drills with a heavy hoe ; and when the plants are of 

 sufficient size, they are set out with hoes up the drills as regularly 

 as the men can separate them. Another hoeing is given them in 

 August, or late in July, and the plants looked over to separate 

 any that may have been left too thick : and, should they require 

 it, they are again hand- weeded in the autumn. Swede turnips are 

 very liable to be attacked with the "turnip-fly," which often 

 destroys the crop, and renders a second, or, in some cases, a third, 

 sowing necessary. 



Messrs. David and John Gaudern, of Earl's Barton, who have 

 been very successful growers of turnips, and have repeatedly 

 taken the prizes for the turnip crop offered by the Agricultural 

 Book Club, have kindly given me the following information 

 relating to the mode of managing their last year's turnip- 

 fallow : — 



" About half the field was manured soon after harvest from the feltmonger's 

 yard,* about 10 loads per acre, which lay on the top until the middle of 

 December, when the whole field was ploughed, and the other half top-dressed 

 with 15 loads of well-made farm-yard manure. In April and part of May 

 we consumed about 8 tons of mangel-wurzel per acre with sheep upon the 

 land, giving them a small quantity of corn. The land was then ploughed 

 very thin, and directly afterwards scarified 7 inches deep twice over, and 

 rolled down. After lying about three weeks the land was ploughed and the 

 seeds drilled in immediately — the rows, 18 inches apart, first horse-hoed when 

 the plants v/ere large enough to see the rows ; then the rows were chopped 

 through with a 9-inch hoe, leaving two or three plants together, afterwards 

 singled by boys. When the plants got strong enougii every row was gone 

 over singl}^ with an adze-hoe, moving all the ground. This we find effectual : 

 the land wants nothing more doing at it. The whole expense after the seed 

 is sown is from 10^. to 12s. per acre. We have pursued the above method 

 some years, and find, although the hand labour is more than the ridge system, 

 the extra weight gained per acre more than repays for the trouble." 



One of the Duke of Grafton's tenants last year adopted the 

 following mode of cultivation on his turnip-fallow. In the month 



* Messrs. Ga^dei'n are also feltmongers and woolstaplers. 



