128 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Mat Iff 
ploughed twice, to a good depth, and each time rolled 
and harrowed sufficiently to eradicate the grass and 
weeds, which should be burnt, or carted away, as before 
mentioned, taking great care, during the whole course of 
tillage, not to plough, or work the land whilst it is wet, 
or during unfavourable weather. 
The ground should now be ploughed into stetebes 
; about two feet apart, which will leave the largest surface 
| exposed to the favourable influence of the alternate 
l frost and rain peculiar to the winter months. 
In the early spring, upon the arrival of favourable 
weather, and when the land becomes dry and white 
upon the surface, commence with tillage, preparatory 
to manuring and sowing. It will now depend upon the 
system of culture to be adopted as to the mode of pro¬ 
ceeding with the tillage; two systems are advocated by 
different parties—drilling on the flat, and also drilling 
on the stetcli, commonly called the “Northumberland 
ridge culture.” 
I believe both these to be well adapted for the growth 
of Swedish Turnips, but I think we should be guided 
in our choice by the nature of our soil, and the climate, 
and situation of the land. 1 consider that ridge culture 
is best adapted for a kind soil, and the climate of the 
northern and western counties of England, where a 
greater portion of moisture falls, which is essential to 
the favourable growth of this root; in which case, the J 
land will nearly always be found sufficiently moist to 
vegetate the seed upon the ridge; and in seasons of 
excessive wet the land will lie much drier. 
Upon the other hand, I think the cultivation on the 
flat best suited to the dry climate and unkindly soils of 
the eastern and southern counties of England, because 
the seed will vegetate with a less kindly surface, and a 
small amount of rain will suffice to keep the plant alive 
until the arrival of the periodical and autumnal rains. 
If the ridge-culture be selected, proceed to split the 
stetclres with a double mould-board plough, and allow it to 
remain in this way until the weeds make their appear¬ 
ance, then, if it is intended to manure with yard or town 
manure, let carts pass along the furrows laden with 
manure, two men casting out such a quantity as may 
be deemed sufficient, and three women, or boys, follow¬ 
ing, to distribute it equally in the furrows. If artificial 
manure is used, let the guano, or any manure rich in 
ammonia, be sown broadcast on the stetches, taking 
care to have damp ashes mixed with the guano, or any 
' other manure in a dry state, to prevent its flying before 
the wind; after which, whether dunged, or artificially 
i manured, the ridges should be made up in their proper 
i form. The manure will then have been buried a good 
depth in the centre of the ridge. 
The land may now bo seeded, and such manures 
applied by the drill as may be decided upon; but I 
think, in all cases, two-hundred-weight of superphosphate 
i of lime, mixed with a portion of ashes, is desirable, in 
order to iorce on the young plant out of the reach of its 
! numerous enemies. 
A\ hen the flat, or level culture, is chosen, commence 
the spring tillage by harrowing the stetches crossways, 
until quite level, having the roots of grass and weeds 
which may be found alive picked off; after which, allow 
it to remain until the weeds make their appearance, 
then proceed to cart out the manure, spread in the 
ordinary way, and plough it in; if yard or town manure 
be used, take care to have it previously well prepared, 
by turning and mixing, in order that it may bury with 
the plough more readily. 
In case guano is used, let it be sown broadcast, and 
ploughed in, for when sown upon the surface after 
ploughing it makes the weeds grow most rapidly, in¬ 
creasing the expenses, injuring the young Turnip, and 
exhausting the manure, for the operation of the guano 
is not required by the Turnip until after the period 
of hoeing, particularly when an application (which is 
always desirable) of superphosphate, &c., has been made. 
The land should now be sown with about three 
pounds of seed per acre being drilled, and with such 
manure as may be required at the same time, taking 
especial care that every ridge is seeded, as fast as it 
is ploughed, the advantages of which will be great— 
whether rain or dry weather succeed. The distance 
between the rows is very important. I think the best 
distance is twenty inches apart on the flat, and two 
feet apart on the stetch, taking into consideration the 
above-named circumstances. Joseph Blundell. 
(To be continued.) 
THE LESSON OF GOD’S OWN TEACHING. 
By llie Authoress of “My Flowers." 
(Continued from page 85.) 
I now proceed to give the sequel of William Green’s 
instructive history in the simple effective words of the 
narrator. Let it sink deeply into the heart and memory of 
every discontented spirit; of every one who is hewing out 
his own cistern; kindling his own sparks; going down to 
Egypt for help. Happy will it be if they stop before they 
have gone headlong to ruin! 
“ The time of William Green’s departure being at hand, 
I went to pay a farewell visit to him and his family at their 
cottage. Miserable was the appearance of the house; 
wrapped in large bundles were the bedding and clothes they 
were required to take with them ; while the absence of the 
scanty furniture, which had been sold, gave a desolate and 
chilling appearance to the whole household. Playing in the 
middle of the floor were the two youngest children—fat, 
hearty - looking little rogues, full of play and merriment, 
tumbling and rolling over each other in redundancy of health 
and joy. Poor little fellows ! my heart turned sick when I 
saw them ; and fancy painted the wretchedness of an emigra¬ 
tion vessel, and the long and weary miles of ocean waste 
that must be ploughed before they reached their final port. 
Little did I then anticipate that before their journey was I 
half accomplished, their little bodies, now so full of life and 
animation, would be sunk in the depth of the ocean, a prey 
to the monsters of the deep. The farewell was given, and i 
I turned homewards, with a heart full of interest for the 
departing family. 
“ They went. Week after week passed away, and no 
letter was received from them. At length, after a long time, 
I recognised the hand-writing of my quondam-workman on 
the address of a foreign letter. The letter was, indeed, full 
of woe; and bitterly did poor Green deplore bis untoward 
step; and well he might—for he left England with a wife 
and three hearty children, and he landed on a foreign shore 
a widower, with only one child. 
“ At first all had passed smoothly on, and the voyage, after 
