472 
Cultivation of Kohl-Rabi. 
stalk (if the stock be good) will not be more than 2 or 3 inches 
long ; then plough all in a little deeper than common ; by this 
means everything is put into a state of decomposition, furnishing 
a quantity of vegetable manure for the ensuing crops, and avoiding 
all trouble of extraction. It is worthy of notice, too, that in no 
instance have we seen the stalks or roots of the Kohl-rabi sprout 
again ! 
How then stands the question of expense between this 
crop and Swedish turnips ? You have in the former an extra 
pecking, at the cost, perhaps, of 2s. or 2s. Qd. per acre, while 
you save on the other hand all the expense of cleaning, loith the 
consequent remaining dirt and tcaste incident thereto. In both 
cases the tops are presumed to be cut off by a sharp hook while 
standing. The balance, therefore, in the expense of feeding off, 
is clearly in favour of the Kohl-rabi, while the value of the food 
is vastly superior to any modern crop of Swedish turnips. 
We have now put the matter, to the best of our ability, before 
the farming public ; we cannot hope all at once to allay prejudice, 
but it is satisfactory to know that the cultivation of this excellent 
plant is greatly extending, both here and in the adjoining counties. 
In Hunts, among others, the Messrs. Bowyer, no mean authorities 
in the farming world, have been extending its growth every year. 
Mr. Pawlett, the eminent breeder and feeder of stock, in Beds, 
has reduced his growth of Swedes this year to one solitary acre ; 
while his brother at Peterborough has been latterly supplying us 
with the best stock of Kohl-rabi seed we have yet met with : 
we regret to learn, however, from him that in his last year's crop 
of seed he has obtained but one bushel where he hoped to get 
twenty — too truly bearing out our statement that the seed of 
Kohl-rabi is a very precarious crop. Although it is but five 
years since we first introduced it into the adjoining parish, there 
is not a single farmer there who does not now cultivate it ; every 
year increasing the extent — it is in fact now to be seen dotted over 
this entire county ; and it is but honest to admit that on the 
deeper and better soils there are to be found some few heavier 
crops than our own, from which bulbs have been exhibited 
weighing upwards of 14 lbs. each. In reviewing our commu- 
nication, we imagine our more practical farmers will, probably, 
think we have gone somewhat furtlier into detail than was neces- 
sary, but they will excuse us when we say that we have been 
requested to furnish information for parties supposed to be 
thoroughly unacquainted with the plant and its cultivation. 
We cannot conclude our remarks without observing that, among 
all the monotony and other ills of farming life, there is one very 
pleasurable reflection, viz., that we have no secrets, but — if we 
know of anything modern or useful — every right-minded agricul- 
