526 
On the Kohl-Rabi. 
Ireland are these : — cattle, and especially horses, are fonder of it ; the leaves are 
better food ; it bears transplanting better than any other root ; insects do not 
injure it ; drought does not prevent its growth ; it stores quite as well or better ; 
it stands the winter better j and it affords food later in the season, even in 
June." 
Mr. William Boyle, of the Model Farm, Glasnevin, says : — 
" As Kohl-Eabi is much hardier than either swedes or mangold-wnrtzel, and 
will keep over to May or June without failure, I think the crop deserves a fair 
trial as an auxiliary to the usual green crops." 
Mr. Hewitt Davis * thus testifies in favour of the Kohl- 
Rabi : — 
" My success in growing heavy crops of this root for some years upon poor 
soils — and, more particularly, the contrast their goodness this year presents to 
the general failure in the south of England of swedes and turnips from the 
summer drought — induces me to bring its valuable qualities under more general 
notice. . , . It is not attacked in the field by the fly, nor liable to the 
casualties that turnips are exposed to. . . . Very hardy, withstanding 
frost, and affords more late winter cattle-food to the acre than any other vege- 
table that I am acquainted with. . . The value of this root in any season 
is very considerable, but more particularly after a dry summer, when most other 
winter food is scarce. I am this year very fortunate, having on each of my 
farms a considerable breadth ; and I so much approve of it, that I intend never 
being without it. Lean stock, after such a season as we have just had, always 
sell low in the autumn from the want of winter keep ; whilst fat stock in the 
following spring, from the same cause, usually sell very high, so that a plant 
of this description is most advantageous. Upon a field of ten acres, broken 
up from heath last year, I have at this mom,ent more winter food to the acre 
than is commonly grown on good soils in favourable seasons from any other 
root." 
It is needless extending further the evidence in favour of the 
general cultivation of the Kohl-Rabi, either as supplementary to 
swedes, or as a substitute for them. The result of very extensive 
inquiries among growers, leads us only to wonder that it has not, 
ere this, come into general use — the evidence in its favour being 
so complete wherever an experiment has been made. The 
absence of published information in regard to it, and the igno- 
rance of its properties and value as difarm crop, even in districts 
where its use as a garden vegetable has long been known, can 
alone account for the neglect to which it has been subjected. 
Let us hope that, through tlie publicity now given to it among 
the members of the Royal English Agricultural Society, some, 
at least, of our more enterprising agriculturists will introduce it 
to their farms, and duly record their experience of its properties 
as a plant fitted to take its place in the ordinary rotations of 
cropping. 
* ' Farming Essays,' No. xvi. p. 70. 
