Agriculture of Nottinghamshire. 
9 
the 20th of the latter month. If sown earlier they are liable, on 
the dry soils, to mildew; if later, they frequently do not attain 
the same size which they otherwise would. Some experienced 
farmers prefer a rather late season, from the circumstance of the 
late sown turnips being mostly of better quality than those sown 
earlier. Presuming on the land being perfectly clean, and free 
from quitch, the usual method is to throw open drills for the 
reception of the manure, which is done by a common swing 
plough, in most general use throughout the county, drawn by two 
horses abreast. The distance between the drills should vary, 
with the quality of the soil, from 22 to 27 inches. The better 
the soil the wider the drills may be drawn, as the plants will be 
larger, and consequently require more room to expand in. The 
manure is then carted on by one-horse carts from the hills, as 
described above, in quantity from 10 to 15 loads to the acre, as 
it ha])pens to be plentiful or the contrary, or as the farmer may 
wish to reserve it or not for other purposes. Women and boys 
then follow, for the purpose of thoroughly dividing and equally 
distributing it in the drills. If the manure has been well made 
in the yards, and afterwards treated in the manner we have 
described, it will present a black and oily appearance, retaining 
considerable heat, and giving every indication of strength and 
goodness. The ridges are then immediately split by another 
plough, covering in the manure as quickly as possible, which at 
this season of the year, when evaporation goes on rapidly, is an 
object of paramount importance. The Northumberland drill 
now follows upon the newly-made ridges, whilst the mould is 
fresh and moist, depositing, at one and the same time, although at 
different depths, the seed and such hand manures as may be used. 
'I'he quantity of seed sown on the acre ought to be varied accord- 
ing to the state of the soil at the time of sowing, and the general 
character of the soil. On the light soils, if sufficiently moist, 
every seed may be expected to vegetate, and even then not less 
than 3 lbs. ought to be sown ; but on the stronger soils, which lie 
more open, and upon which it is, in consequence, more difficult to 
secure a sufficiency of plants, not less than 4 lbs. should be sown. 
We are aware that many will consider this an unnecessary 
quantity ; but, supposing the whole to grow, which is seldom the 
case, it is only to introduce the hoes somewhat sooner. Plants 
are much easier thinned from a superabundance than supplied 
when wanting, particularly on dry soils, where transplanting is 
attended with uncertainty ; and in favour of a large quantity of 
seed we may cite the Northumbrian practice, which is high 
authority on the subject. 
Amongst a groat variety of hand manures now in use the most 
common are bones ground either to what is called " dust," or to 
