Farming of Cambridgeshire. 
43 
and the more general use of guano, has not only checked their 
advance, but slightly lowered the price; and I am induced to 
hope that, from the beneficial results I have seen from the use of 
sulphuric acid in dissolving bones, and by using a less quantity 
per acre, we may still further reduce them. 
As soon as the turnips are sufficiently old they are harrowed 
across with an iron harrow, made expressly for that purpose, 
with two rows of teeth only, which parts and thins the turnips 
without smothering them up, as is the case with the comm.on 
harrow; the turnips are then either horse-hoed or flat-hoed by 
hand, costing about 2s. 6d. to 3^. per acre ; they are then set out 
singly, each hoer having a boy or girl following him to part and 
pull up any he may have left, so as to leave them single. And 
farmers will find tliat too much attention cannot possibly be paid 
to this part of the business, to see that each turnip stands singly, 
and that they are not left too thick ; as neither large turnips nor a 
great weight per acre can be grown without plenty of room 
between the plants, so as freely to admit the air. Some drill 
them 17 inches from row to row, others 21 inches. The advan- 
tage of having them 21 inches is, that in horse-hoeing them the 
horses walk between the middle rows of plants, but at 17 inches 
they are obliged to walk on the middle row of plants, which is a 
great objection. The plants are left rather nearer each other 
when drilled at 21 inches. In about three weeks' time they are 
again hoed by hand, to see that all are left single, and to stir the 
earth and cut up what few weeds may be found. Our lands are 
subject to rye-grass, and if not kept well attended to in fine 
weather, and in the early stage of growth, cannot be kept 
thoroughly clean afterwards. But the turnip-crop should be 
kept as clean as a garden, not allowing a weed to make its ap- 
pearance. 
About one-fourth or one-fifth of the turnips are pulled and carted 
into the yard, to be consumed by beasts eating oil-cake and meal. 
The greater portion of those which remain are then consumed on 
the land by fattening sheep, eating cake or corn. Many will sup- 
pose that with such high farming great crops would be produced, 
but this district is generally of so poor and hungry a nature that 
without such high farming scarcely any crops would be produced. 
The natural value of a large portion of this district is, compara- 
tively speaking, nothing without higli farming; and the increased 
produce that has b een grown since the various parishes have been 
inclosed is truly wonderful. 
The readers of this Report can easily picture to themselves the 
great improvement that must have taken place by the highly im- 
proved system of farming at present carried on with so much 
spirit, as compared with that thus described by Mr. Gooch, in his 
