420 
Hwrvesting the Seed of Root-Crops. 
perfectly ripe the seed falls out -with ease, a mere shaking by the 
wind being sufficient to dislodge a large proportion. As the plants 
are set close together, varying from 40,000 to G0,000 per acre, and 
as these grow into stout shi'ubs, 3 feet or 4 feet in height, which 
throw out lateral branches so as to form a dense growth in which 
the individual plants are almost lost, a considerable amount of pull- 
ing is necessary to disentangle them, especially, as is often the case, 
when the crop has fallen flat on the ground. The crop is therefore 
cut at the time when the sap has commenced to leave the plants, 
when the pods are turning yellow, and the seed has lost its greenness. 
If cut too soon the seed does not ripen thoroughly, which is indicated 
on threshing by the purple rather than the black colour of the 
sample. If the land is weedy this crop must be cut sooner than it 
otherwise would be, as the weeds tend to mat it together, causing it 
to be more difficult to pull out the plants, and thereby entailing 
great loss of seed. If the seed is not sufficiently ripe its germinating 
powers are weak. Some judgment is therefore necessary in deter- 
mining the best time for commencing to cut. The cutting is gene- 
rally done by the piece, and costs, according to the quality of the 
crop, from 7s. to 10s. per aci-e, 7s. 6o?. to 8s. %d. being the usual 
price paid. A short fagging-hook is most commonly used, and the 
worker grasps the stems of the plants with one hand whilst he chops 
with the other. The handful is then drawn out, and laid in bundles 
or sheaves. It is, however, not usual to tie them, although this is 
occasionally done. 
The sheaves are left on the ground for a week or two, in order 
to become thoroughly dry and ripened, and it rarely happens, even 
under the most favourable conditions, that they are fit to thresh in 
less than a fortnight. If threshed before absolutely dry, the seed 
heats subsequently, and if not carefully handled is ruined. Whilst 
on the ground the sheaves are turned occasionally, so that the seed 
may be equally ripened throughout, and also to prevent the seed 
from growing when the weather is wet. It is a very anxious time for 
the farmer, as a strong wind, especially a whirlwind, often turns 
the sheaves and knocks out many bushels per acre. A hailstorm 
or heavy thunder shower will frequently knock out half the seed, 
and in continued wet weather much of it begins to grow. Every 
turning occasions loss, and as it becomes riper the loss is proportion- 
ately greater. The best plan is to turn the sheaves while the dew is 
on them, as the pods are tougher then. Turnip-seed shells out tlie 
most easily, whilst Kale and Cabbage suffer least in this respect. 
It is not usual to stack the sheaves, as much loss of seed is 
inevitable during the moving, and there is great increase in the 
expense. Nevertheless, it is sometimes found advisable to stack in 
seasons when there is great absence of sunshine, for it is otherwise 
impossible to get the seed sufficiently dry for storing without 
leaving it subject to loss from the meteorological causes already 
mentioned. The threshing is therefore generally carried out in the 
field, and it is one of the busiest sights on the farm. All the seed 
will not knock out unless it is absolutely dry, and though three- 
