436 "^HE KITCHEN GARDEN. [July. 
next under consideration; the method of doing this dexterously is 
difficult to describe, nothing but practice can teach it. A boy in 
the turnip counties by the time he is the height of the hoe begins to 
make use of it, consequently every man who has been bred there 
to country business, is a turnip-hoer, yet not always, even with this 
advantage, an expert one. 
The operation, to be performed dexterously and well, requires a 
quickness of eye and a dexterity of hand that every man is not 
favoured vfith; while some men catch the proper plants to be 
singled, and set them out, with a rapidity and neatness of execu- 
tion very pleasing to the observer. 
The hoe is generally drawn around the plant with a long sweep- 
ing stroke, and when the plants are small, this is the only stroke 
that can be used with propriety; but when they are grown out of 
the danger of being buried, a short straight stroke is more expedi- 
tious. 
Upon the whole, it matters not which way the operation is per- 
formed, provided the ground be stirred, the weeds eradicated, and 
the plants set out singly and at proper distances. 
The due distance is from seven to twelve inches every way; this 
must be regulated according to the strength of the land, the time of 
sowing, and the kind of turnip cultivated; strong ground and early 
sowing always producing the largest roots. 
The width of the hoe should be in proportion to the medium dis- 
tance to be left between the plants, and this to their expected size. 
The critical time of the first hoeing is when the plants, as they 
lie spread upon the ground, are nearly the size of the palm of the 
hand; if, however, seed weeds be numerous and luxuriant, they 
ought to be checked before the turnip plants arrive at that size, 
lest being drawn up tall and slender they should acquire a weak, 
sickly habit. 
A second hoeing should be given when the leaves are grown to 
the height of eight or nine inches, in order to destroy weeds, loosen 
the earth, and finally to regulate the plants; a third, if found neces- 
sary, may be given at any subsequent period. 
Here again will the farmer exclaim against the expense and 
trouble of hoeing; but let him try one acre in this way, and leave 
another of the same quality to nature, as is too frequently done, 
and he will find that the extra produce of the hoed acre will more 
than six times compensate for the labour bestowed. 
In the kitchen garden, the early Dutch, early stone, green 
topped, red round, white round, and yellow turnips, are excellent 
kinds to cultivate for table use, and full crops of them ought to 
be sown between the twentieth of this month and the middle of 
August. 
Ruta Baga, or Sioedish Turnip. 
This variety of turnip is the most important of all, and deserves 
to be ranked in the first class of vegetable productions. Its quan- 
tity of produce, richness of flavour, and extreme hardiness, renders 
