power to yield due nourishment to each of these 
crops, and their capacity of resisting too rapid 
decomposition, or of remaining with sufficient 
permanency in the soil to give out their princi- 
ples only as they are wanted, on to the end of 
the rotation. It is therefore an enquiry of vast 
comprehensiveness and almost bewildering com- 
plexity ; and might, both pertinently and profit- 
ably, be made to comprise the whole themes of 
both manure and rotation, or almost the entire 
science of agricultural chemistry, together with 
all its most important practical applications. We 
clearly could not discuss it here without very 
largely repeating what we have said in other 
articles; and we must refer intelligent readers, 
for both the general principles and some of the 
chief details by which they may work out the 
enquiry for themselves, to our articles Manurg, 
Farm-Yarp Manure, Bonz-Manvre, Guano, 
Nitrates, and AgricuntTuRAL CHEMISTRY; and 
we shall here do no more than first borrow from 
an able writer in the Yorkshire Agricultural So- 
ciety’s Transactions, a statement of the most ap- 
proved prevailing empirical practice of experi- 
enced farmers in some of the best agricultural 
districts of the country, and next mention one or 
two facts, by way of hint and specimen, respecting 
the action of special manures, both as used alone, 
_ and as used in combination with farm-yard ma- 
nure and special composts. 
“Tn treating of manures with which the tur- 
nips should be dressed,” says Mr. Milburn, the 
Yorkshire writer, “farm-yard manure stands the 
foremost, because it is what every farmer pos- 
sesses, and, with the exception of the calcareous 
soils in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is almost 
invariably employed in the cultivation of turnips, 
In general, it never will and never can be super- 
seded ; and though every deference is due to the 
practical knowledge of the Hast Riding farmers, 
there can be no doubt that if their straw were 
more carefully made into manure and applied to 
| the turnip crop in conjunction with bones, it 
would be decidedly advantageous. It is necessary 
to say that house-made manure, and by fattening 
cattle, especially such as are consuming artificial 
food, is the best, and that of horses, cows, pigs, 
&c,, should be mixed as intimately as possible, 
the hot character of horse’s dung neutralizing 
the coldness of that of the cow, and wice versd. 
It is desirable to cart this mixture to the fields 
intended for turnips in January and February, 
during the frost, or at such other times as con- 
venience may dictate, but the earlier the better. 
About three weeks before used, it should be 
turned over the sides of the mixen, being care- 
fully turned into the middle. Without entering, 
in particular, into the much disputed question of 
the fermentation of dung being useful or other- 
wise, thus much every farmer will know well the 
truth of, that on light soils, and for turnips, 
well-rotted dung is indispensable where it is used 
at all. When fermentation is progressing so 
oo 
TURNIP. 
517 
fast as to induce destructive heat or mouldiness, 
it may be checked by treading the mixen, and 
covering it with soil; and when it is sluggish, it 
may be excited by turning and watering. For 
sandy or gravelly soils, farm-yard manure is an 
almost necessary ingredient in producing a crop 
of turnips. The rapid decomposition of vegetable 
matter which takes place on such soils requires 
that there should be a supply for that succulent 
crop; and, as before stated, there can be no 
doubt of its utility to calcareous soils; but for 
peaty descriptions, where there is abundance of 
vegetable matter, it is less useful. The time for 
laying on the manure depends on the method of 
sowing adopted, and clearness of the land from 
weeds. If the plough-drill be used, it is desir- 
able to immediately precede the plough; if the 
Norfolk, or large drill, it is better to lay it on a 
week or two before sowing, to allow it to mix 
intimately with the soil, especially if other ma- 
nure is intended to be used, and the soil pretty 
free from weeds. The quantity to be applied 
will vary with circumstances ; twelve to fourteen 
tons per acre may be stated as an average, and 
more, if the soil be poor, and no other manure 
intended; while less may be used, in proportion 
as other manures are applied. Lime stands next 
in importance as a dressing. The object of all 
manure is to supply some deficiency, remedy some 
mechanical inconvenience, or correct some detri- 
mental agent in the soil. When dung, for in- 
stance, has been applied for several successive 
crops, a quantity of undecomposed vegetable 
matter accumulates, which the natural soluble 
properties of the soil cannot dissolve, and it re- 
mains inert. A dose of lime will correct this, 
and will bring every particle of such inert matter 
with which it comes in contact available as food 
to the plants. It also assists in the intimate 
pulverization of the soil, as well as corrects any 
acidity which may exist in it from causes which 
the agriculturist can seldom foresee or correct, 
except by its use, It is also destructive to weeds 
in the soil, and hence exceedingly valuable, for 
every farmer knows that weeds, being indigenous, 
are much more ready to grow in the soil than 
his crops, which are artificial, and often exotic. 
For peaty soils, an occasional dressing of quick- 
lime is invaluable, especially if there is an addi- 
tion of clay, road-scrapings, &c., to give the re- 
quisite firmness to the soil. It should be laid on 
as soon as convenient after bringing from the 
kiln, and in as hot a state as possible. 
The time © 
for laying on lime is a few weeks before the — 
sowing, in order that the subsequent ploughings 
may mix it thoroughly with the soil, and thus © 
its effects be more immediate after the sowing. 
The quantity per acre entirely depends upon the 
character of the lime in the locality. Two or 
four chaldrons per acre are used; but as it is 
applied for turnips generally, in conjunction 
with other fertilizers, the former may be stated 
as the better quantity. If dung is also applied, 
