June 9. 
THfi COTTAGE GARDENER. 
185 
ordinary seasons, until the middle of the month of De- j 
cember, and in this case, they will prove much more 
nutritious in the spring, and better able to withstand 
the changes of the weather than when sown at the 
[ earliest period. 
When Swedes are required for pulling and storing 
early in the autumn, it is best to sow the seed the first, 
season, that is, as soon as the land can be brought into 
: a good state, after the middle of the month of May, 
and particularly upon soils situated in the northern and 
western counties, where a large quantity of rain usually 
falls, and also upon high and bleak situations, where 
the plant generally grows slojvly. 
The mode of putting in the seed by the chill is now 
, almost universal; and although some parties still adhere 
i to the broadcast sowing, I cannot see any advantage in 
so doing; on the contrary, the drill system gives the 
best opportunity for the application of artificial manures, 
and likewise offers the best chance of hoeing and clean¬ 
ing the crop at the least expense. 
The space and distance between the rows in drilling 
upon the flat should be about twenty inches, in ordi¬ 
nary soils which have been well tilled and manured. 
The horse hoeing cannot be effectually carried out if 
the rows are placed nearer than twenty inches apart. 
Upon shallow soils, and those much infested with 
weeds, it is advisable to adopt the ridge culture, the 
| stetclies being made twenty-seven inches apart; this 
; will afford additional depth of soil, and allow ample 
space for the use of the horse-hoe during the whole 
growth of the crop. 
In hand-hoeing the crop, and setting out the plants, 
the nature aud condition of the land must be taken 
into account. If the soil is capable of producing large 
roots, leave them at eighteen inches distance in the 
rows, and if the land is not in high condition, set them 
out at twelve inches. 
It must also be considered for what purpose the crop 
is required. If intended for early pulling, they cannot 
be grown too large; but in case they are required to 
stand the winter, they may be grown closer in the rows, 
as the moderate-sized roots are more nutritious, and 
keep better until a late period. The mode of manuring 
for the Swede crop is one of the most important opera- 
j tious, for although some manures may be said generally 
’ to bo the best for growing Swedes, yet the variation of 
soils will alter the effect of manures, and produce very 
different results. 
I consider experience has now decided, that whatever 
kind of manure is used, superphosphate of lime should 
always form part of the application upon all soils.* 
* A few words are necessary to explain the properties of this manure. 
Neutral phosphate of lime, as found in bones and guano, consists of about 
484 parts of phosphoric acid, and 514 parts of lime, and this in a com- 
1 paratively insoluble state. It requires an acid, such as carbonic acid 
i (which is the weakest), to render it food for plants. Superphosphate of 
i lime consists of phosphoric acid 7>4> and lime 284 parts, and this is 
perfectly soluble in water, so that when placed in the soil, a large amount 
of the very food the young plant delights in is readily available ; and 
even if some of the superphosphate is neutralized by the soil, it is yet 
I much more soluble than in its originul state. It is now very well known, 
that phosphate of lime is converted into superphosphate by means of a 
powerful acid, such as sulphuric, which removes from the phosphate two- 
thirds its lime. The immediate effect of this preparation is to render the 
phosphate of lime readily soluble and available lor the plant, so that a 
Upon land in a good state of tillage, and well ma¬ 
nured for the previous wheat crop, an application of 
2 cwt. superphosphate, and eight bushels of bone dust, 
with about sixteen bushels of dry ashes, per acre, will 
prove one of the best dressings of artificial manure 
which can be applied to loamy or strong soils, and 
drilled with the seed.*- 
Upon light gravel, or soils resting on chalk, the best 
application will be 2 cwt. of superphosphate, and 
twenty bushels of dry ashes, drilled with the seed, and 
2 cwt. of the best Peruvian guano, sown broadcast, and 
either ploughed or harrowed in, previous to drilling the 
seed. The last-named application will also produce the 
best crop upon nearly all soils, but the roots are more 
inclined to rot and decay, and are, I consider, deficient 
in nutrition, when grown after an application of Peru¬ 
vian guano upon loamy soils. 
I have noticed the same effect produced by the use of 
any manure rich in ammonia, for although an appli¬ 
cation of town manure, night soil, or guano, will 
produce a heavy crop of Swedes, yet they are generally 
ill-shaped, throwing up long necks, with more or less 
tendency to decay, according to the nature of soil, time 
of sowing, and other circumstances. 
I have adopted it as a general rule, in my own farm 
practice, to use manures in which bone earth is predo¬ 
minant for the Turnip crop, and those manures, such 
as night soil, yard and town manure, and guano, in all 
of which ammonia abounds, more or less, I use for the 
production of the corn and grass crops. 
The best quantity of seed to be used per acre has 
been named, but I would observe, that a liberal allow¬ 
ance should always be used, because the plants grow so 
much faster whilst young, and consequently get out of 
reach of the insect enemies much sooner. 
I now conclude this paper upon Swedish Turnip 
Culture, by stating, that it is my intention to make the 
after-management, such as hand aud horse-hoeing of 
root-crops, the subject of another article upon a future 
occasion. Joseph Blundell. 
SEA WEEDS.—No. 2. 
I know not how it is, but I never feel so alone with God, 
or such a sensation of pleasure and of joy, as when on some 
widely-extending ocean shore. It is a feeling too elevated 
for expression; when the mind seems lost in the contem¬ 
plation of Him who, though invisible, is still present in His 
wonderful works. How majestic in its simplicity is the 
shower of rain will dissolve at least one hundred times as much phosphate 
of lime from the superphosphate, as it will from the plaiu phosphate of 
lime as it is found in bones. 
Many persons imagine, that by mixing bones with wet ashes or earth, 
they thereby render the phosphate of lime soluble as in superphosphate. 
This, however, is altogether erroneous ; the only effect produced by this 
putrefaction is the greater mechanical division cf the bones, and although 
there is no objection to the process, so long as the ammonia which is 
given off by the decomposing mass is prevented from escaping by a 
covering of earth, yet the phosphate of lime is not rendered more 
soluble than before, and the advantage of employing superphosphate is 
by no means diminished. 
'* Although this is a very judicious mode of applying concentrated 
manures, yet on large farms, where many of the fields are situated at a 
distance from the homestead, a great deal of labour and trouble would be 
saved, without any loss of advantage, by dispensing with the ashes 
altogether, and applying the manure alone, or in conjunction with water, 
as may be required. Economy, convenience, and accuracy, will be thus 
insured, and a drill that will accomplish this will be a.desideratum, and 
one which we believe will soon be supplied.—S. 
