MATRICULATION EXAMINATION OF VETERINARY STUDENTS. 237 
favourite form, and hence it is found that different varieties 
prevail in different districts, whilst some, such as Sutton’s 
Berkshire Champion, the Westbury Swede, and others, are 
sown all the world over. 
As regards turnips, both for farm and garden purposes, 
their varieties are legion, and scarce a year passes without 
the introduction of some new sorts, recommended either by 
our home or foreign seed growers. 
There can be no doubt but that the introduction of turnip 
culture has tended to raise farming to a very high pitch of 
excellence, as it is found that these roots are as salutary to 
the animal economy as they are to the preparation of the 
land for other crops; but, at the same time, if we consider 
that root crops contain a variable quantity of from 90 to 96 
per cent, of water, it is folly to estimate their value at a very 
high price. 
The crop that is sometimes produced is very large. We 
have a valuable silver cup which was given for the best crop 
of swedes in our district, estimated at forty-one tons per 
acre; this, however, is somewhat uncommon. From four¬ 
teen to twenty tons is nearer the mark, and we should say 
that during the past year few farmers attained to even the 
lowest of these numbers. 
We incline to the belief that the value of root crops has 
been considerably overrated by the farmer, and we cannot 
help thinking that much of the present distressed position 
in what farming is at present found is due to the fact 
that, high rents and consequent high taxes, combined with 
increase for labour and manures, have tended to make the 
cost of roots more than their value. 
Still, all must admit that the cabbage family, with its 
salutary herbage of, if not highly nutritious, at least very 
convenient food, has been a great gain to the public at large. 
MATRICULATION EXAMINATION OF VETERI¬ 
NARY SURGEONS. 
Correspondence between Professor McCall and General Sir 
Frederick Fitzwygram, Bart. 
Veterinary College, 
83 & 85 Buccleuch Street, 
Glasgow; 2 5th March, 1880. 
Gentlemen, —As the position which I have assumed in 
dealing with the subject of the matriculatory examination of 
Lin. ^ 
