70 
On the Drill Husbandry of Turnips. 
of the very best plant left by the hoer with one hand, and with 
the other draw out all the plants adjoining it. Tiie holding with 
one hand will generally secure the choice plant intended to be 
left. I am quite convinced it is much the best plan to have tur- 
nips as well hoed as possible the first time over. They are never 
afterwards so good to set out singly at proper distances. If the 
land is clean, and the turnips have been well hoed once, it is of 
comparatively little importance whether they are "run over'' 
again, except that the breaking of the soil about the plants makes 
them grow more rapidly, whilst those not properly singled, the 
first time of going over, soon smother each other^ and then are 
in a worse state than ever. 
I have heard, from very good authority, of turnips having cost 
a guinea per acre in hoeing three or four times over ; and, after 
all, my informant and I thought them a much worse crop, through 
had hoeing only, than they would have been if well hoed only 
once over, which they might have been for 7s. per acre. A few 
years ago I used to get 18-inch rows well hoed once over for 6.y. 
per acre ; but the price of labour in the district of which I am 
speaking has since increased at least one-sixth.* The cost of 
hoeing turnips is of course in proportion to the distance the rows 
are apart ; and the manner in which the first has been done 
will regulate the cost of the succeeding hoeings. Of course 
the land must be made perfectly clear from weeds at this stage, 
if that has not been accomplished before. 
General Observations. 
Having endeavoured to describe the drill system of growing 
turnips, as now practised by some of the best farmers on the wolds 
of the East Riding of Yorkshire, I will point out some of the 
effects of this system as increasing the produce of the land in that 
district, and employing its industrious population. 
Within the last forty years the wolds of Yorkshire were con- 
* The prices named here for hoeing once over will no doubt be con- 
sidered very high: the reasons why they were given were, — 
1st. The wages of agricultural labourers are higher in that district than 
in most others. 
2nd. The turnip-seed being sown very thickly, for the reasons already 
stated, the turnips were proportionably worse to hoe. 
3rd. The farms being large, and at a distance from any village, the tur- 
nip-hoers lost nearly two hours daily in walking to and from their work. 
4th. From being determined to have the work performed as well as pos- 
sible (which I maintain will be found good policyj, it was necessary to give 
liberal prices in order to command at all times a sufficient number of good 
workmen for the great extent of turnips sown. 
