Light-Land Farmiwj. 
99 
seed vegetating quickly, and the plants starting at once and send- 
ing down their roots deeply into the moist subsoil, because the 
land-is previously in good lieart ; still there can be no doubt that 
whatever be the condition of the soil so treated, the crops ob- 
tained will be greatly superior to those raised in the ordinary way. 
It is particularly desirable to use the liquid-manure-distributing 
machine in a dry seed-time, but when there is plenty of moisture 
in the soil the artificial manures may be drilled in dry along 
with, but not in close contact with, the seed.* 
In growing turnij)s on thin, flinty chalks, the distance between 
the rows may be varied from 20 to 27 inches, according to the con- 
dition of the land. If in high condition and well manured, the 
latter distance will be necessary to afford room for the tops ; but 
if in inferior condition, a smaller distance should be adopted, in 
order that the leaves may meet across and shade the land from 
drought. The quantity of seed employed may also vary from 
4 to G lbs. of swedes, and from 2 to 4 lbs. of common turnips. 
In a moist seed-time the smaller quantities are quite enough, but 
when dry the larger should be employed, in order to increase the 
chances of a good braird. After the young plants are in the 
rough leaf, the intervals between the rows are harrowed or 
grubbed with the horse-hoe, which should have five grubber- 
shaped tines, and which can be made to penetrate the ground 5 or 
6 inches deep if required, and thus these intervals receive nearly 
as good a stirring as could be attained by a bare summer fallow. 
On thin, flinty soils, however, it is not desirable to cultivate so 
deeply, as the drought thereby penetrates more easily into the 
soil, and from 2 to 3 inches deep will be quite sufficient to 
destroy all surface weeds. The plants are next set out in the 
rows to distances varying from 9 to 15 inches, according to the 
fertility and condition of the soil, and this is accomplished by 
using a 7 or 10-inch hoe — dashing into the row and leaving a 
bunch of plants between.f All the outside plants of the bunch 
fall over and give room for the centre ones to grow, while at the 
same time the latter are in some degree shelteied by the former. 
About a week or ten days after, these bunches are thinned out 
by the hand or hoe ; if swedes, the hand is to be preferred. A 
second horse-hoeing and hand-hoeing are given some weeks after, 
and further on still, when the leaves are too far spread to admit 
of the hoes being used safely, the weeds are pulled out by the 
hand. The whole of the manual labour of the turnip-crop may 
be performed for 6s. %d. or 7^. Gc/. per acre. 
* In a comparative trial already published there arose very great advantage 
from the use of the water-drill, even when the soil was thoroughly moist. — 
Ph. Pose?. 
t The use of the five-row horse-hoe drawn across the rows is now found to 
answer the purpose more expeditiously. -Ph. P. 
H 2 
