G8 
TIte Mechanical Co)iditi<in of the Soil 
growth, and tlio young plant quickly appears above the surface ; 
but the warmth ■\vhicli has thus far been productive of apparently 
good results has probably by this time robbed the soil of so much 
of its moisture that the supplies to the plant decrease at the most 
critical time of its existence, and unless rain falls the crop is 
lost ; or if the turnip-beetle should commence an attack there is 
but little hope of the plant gaining the mastery. The case is 
very different when the seed is deposited in a dry soil : there it 
lies uninjured, waiting for rain, and does not begin to germinate 
until it gets it. The rains in June generally afford a tolerably 
liberal allowance of water when they do come, quite sufficient to 
carry the seed well through its first stages of growth, until it has a 
rough leaf and a strong root. The delay is immaterial as regards 
time, but not so as regards the safety of the crop. If the seed 
does germinate during those intervals of dry weather, its existence 
is really dej)endent upon a timely supply of rain ; but so long as 
growth has not commenced no fear need be entertained for the 
crop. Dryness at the time of sowing becomes of greater im- 
portance as the land gets lighter in its nature and more easily 
dried by the heat of the sun. 
The quantity of seed sown to the acre varies from 2 to 6 lbs., 
according to circumstances. One very frequent cause of failure 
is mixed seed, of which only a portion will grow. Tliis is easily 
detected by growing a given number of seeds in a pan. When 
the seed is of good quality, an allowance of 4 lbs. per acre is 
ample, but not excessive ; indeed, I consider that the risks which 
the plant runs in its early days render a decrease in the quantity 
of seed very poor economy, and this becomes evident when we 
consider how large an outlay is dependent upon the safety of the 
plant. A liberal supply of good seed gives a far better chance 
for some to escape the turnip-beetle, because, unless it is a very 
wet season, it is more than probable that the seed will not all 
germinate at one time, and for this reason patience often does as 
much good as a second sowing of seed. 
The drill is the best implement for turnip-sowing, and if 
artificial manure is applied at the same time, as is very desirable, 
the arrangement of our best drills for getting a layer of earth 
between the seed and manure is very important. 
The ravages of the turnip-beetle render dibbling quite unsafe. 
The seed grows most satisfactorily when deposited about half or 
three-quarters of an inch beneath the surface : this is shallow 
enough for a safe growth without causing any unnecessar}' 
delay. After the seed has been sown, harroAving once is suffi- 
cient to leave the land in proper order, but rolling should in 
general be avoided. There is a greater variety of opinion as to the 
time of sowing swedes than any other root-crop. Early sowing, 
