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New Method of Hoeing Twiiips. 



I have pointed out elsewhere an important gain, besides cheap- 

 ness, which arises from improved implements, namely, certainty. 

 Every practical farmer will see at once the advantage, if, by a 

 mechanical process, without checking his harvest, he can carry 

 forward his turnip-crop from the time when it peeps above 

 ground until its spreading leaves hide the land from our sight. 



There is even a further benefit at which I may venture to 

 hint. It is well known that many parishes of southern England 

 contain at present more labourers than can be easily employed 

 during the winter half of the year. But they are required for 

 about three months in summer, and the farmers are therefore 

 unwilling to favour their removal by emigration. This maximum 

 demand in summer, however, arises from three operations — hay- 

 making, turnip-hoeing, and harvest ; if then these three several 

 demands for extra labour are reduced by the use of machinery, 

 the pressure for hands in summer being no longer felt, there will 

 no longer be any reason for detaining families whose presence in 

 winter tends to burthen the ratepayer, while their own condition 

 is depressed by the slack demand for their labour. 



Pusey, July 3l5^. Ph. Pusey. 



Having inquired of Mr. Garrett whether his horse-hoe had 

 been used by others in the same manner, I am glad to learn from 

 him that two other agriculturists at least, perhaps more, have so 

 used it recently, and to subjoin their statements in support of my 

 own. The first is from Mr. Cottingham, of Leiston Hall, who 

 says : — 



I have been much pleased with your horse-hoe's performance in hoeing 

 turnips out. Each set of hoes were fixed to cut clean 12 inches, leaving 

 6 inches space between each. After the horse-hoe had been taken directly 

 plumb across the stetches, they were singled by children, and they now look 

 remarkably well. Of course there was a full plant. My turnips growing so 

 very rapidly this season, if it had not been for your horse-hoe, I should have 

 had many acres much injured for want of getting them out in proper time." 



The second account is from Mr. Williams, manager of Mr. 

 Sidney Herbert's farm at Wilton : — 



^' I commenced the cross horse-hoeing last year on some late sown turnips, 

 which convinced me that it was practicable, should the plants be regular and 

 without blanks in the rows. The turnips require to be horse-hoed as soon as 

 they are in rough leaf. I have this year thus horse-hoed all my mangolds and 

 swedes, and I have found it to be the cheapest, and by far the most perfect 

 method that I have tried or seen. I intend to cut all my late turnips in the 

 same manner." 



I understand from Mr. Herbert that his colleague, Mr. Wynd- 

 ham, has also used the same method successfully. 



August \7tli. 



