58 
On the Drill Husbandry of Turnips. 
the turnip-seed, it sprung up quickly ; and I had the satisfaction 
to find these weeds were so effectually destroyed, that it would 
have been difficult to find two within 50 yards of each other, 
although in the first crop there had been so many. I do not 
mean to say that, if this field were ploughed deeper than it was 
in the season I allude to, or soil brought to the air that had not 
before been within its reach, charlock would not grow, but I can 
say, it never has grown since, although there have been several 
charlock years. However, no doubt, there are occasionally seasons 
so unfavourable for getting the seeds of these weeds grown, that 
no man could at once get rid of them ; therefore, we must not 
throw discredit on those who have not had a fair opportunity of 
preventing what is probably a source of great annoyance to 
them. 
When the proper moment is seized for performing each opera- 
tion, of harrowing, rolling, &c., which, in dry weather^ and on dry 
soils, will generally be found to be by causing them to follow each 
other closely — that is, before the land gets too dry — the work of 
pulverization and cleaning will be found to take less labour than 
might at first be supposed. 
I have thus, partly, stated my method of preparing land for 
turnips, when clear from couch, and yet subject to charlock. 
Considerable experience on land much subject to couch taught 
me, that the best time to get it out is after the second ploughing, 
and then by the drag-harrow. If you plough oftener before you 
make the attempt, the couch will be cut into such small pieces 
that it will be very difficult to get rid of the whole. 
When the land has been made fine, the couch of course must 
be raked off, and either burnt or turned into manure without 
burning. 
If it is burnt, the ashes should be drilled with the other manure 
when sowing the turnips, in order to accelerate the growth of the 
young plants, which they will do in a remarkable degree. But, 
whether the couch ought to be burnt for this purpose, will depend 
on whether we have any cheaper means of attaining the same end. 
Were it not for the advantages from drilling the ashes as above, 
I think it would be better not to burn the couch. 
Where the soil is very full of couch, it will be necessary to have 
the small teeth in the drag, or it would not pass through it ; but, 
when larger teeth can be used, they are much more effectual. 
The couch will not all be got out by one dragging, but, if the 
season is then favourable, it is best to cross-drag it until you have 
got rid of the whole. 
The system of close working with harrows, rollers, &c., may 
not be equally applicable to all soils, but as there is a " tide in 
the affairs of men," so there is a time for performing each opera- 
