Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-04-17
From the N. York Columbian.
TO F.aR.NERsa AND GARDENERS

TO FARMERS AND GARDENERS.
Those who have recently trequented
the markets at New-York, have been, l
understand, greatly surprised at the sight
Of the Russia TurDips, which have been
there sold for me; and am informed
that the person who has hitherto taken
them to market, has misrepresented him
self as having raised them, or at least, as
having had hind in raising then, while
be has not informed any one OF the name
of the proprietor Of them. Deemiag this
matter OF great public interest, shall
hope to be excused in trespassing for a
moment on your patience, while | relate
the real facts.
Always having thought, that by the
culture of root crops and green crops,
the clear profit Of any farm in America
might be much mare than doubled, ] for
med the design, last summer, to try bow
those crops would succeed here. / did
not land at New-York till the 5th Of May
II took piece Of land On the Goth, so
poor that all my neighbors said Lo,hing
would grow on it The far greater part
of il was covered with weeds aid bram-
bles; there was not twenty loads OF ma
nure on the place / have never bought
any, and upon about seven acres OF this
land I have raised about three hundred
bushels of Russia Turnips. i made sa-
tisfactory experiments as to Mangel wur-
gle. Carrots. Pars hips and Cabbages,
none of which were sowr till the month
Of June, and yet the crops were surpri-
singly great. 1t is my intention to pub
fish IN account Of all those experiments
very soon but l shall first publish an ac-
count of the Russia Turnip culture.
The root will quite fat sheep and or
en-, will half keep horse, and half fat q
pig IF q good sOrt-snd it boiled or
steamed, quite fat such q pig. Its quail.
ties for the table are well known, and
The bulk Of the crop may be made prodi-
gious. My turnips were Of various bulk
on diff rent par's-of the land. Upon one
acre there were $40 bushels. and if !
live to next November, have no doubt OF
being able o show 800 bushels upon an
acre Many Of my turnip' weighed more
than ten pounds each. Many that 90 to
market weigh from 6 to 8 pounds, and, as
in the cas- of all fruits, the largest are
III. sweetes, and richest. Having seen
how we'll adapted the climate was to this
culture, I wrote home for some seed to
be sent me from q very worthy friend
and neighbor in Hampshire, which | ex'
Beet to arrive very soon. When it dues
arrive, I shall cause the part l do not
want of il to be offered for sale at mo-
derate price, having a great desire to see
this root generally cultivated. have no
doubt that seed raised in this country
would be as good as seed raised in Eng
land i; but as | have yet no knowledge OF
this matter, I speak only Of the produce
Of English seed. and Of seed, too, raised
with great care BY my neighbor before
mentioned. The raising Of the seed Is
rather a nice matter but ! shall this
summer raise some myself, and I shall
give full inst, uctions, in print, how ia
mise it 10 the best manner. My stay in
the United states may not be long but
fam not without some hopes that my vi
cit will be remembered by the introduc.
ton Of the root culture, and BY the dn'
wing out of loag-nosed, long necked. long
legged ,sharp.backed and pot.bsIlied hogs
WIN. CoBBETT:
n. B. I have used the words " Russia
Turnips," because they are used in this
neighborhood. We, in England, call il
the Swedish Turnip. Its the real Ruta
Bega. Its bslk 10 Of deep yellow, and
its leaf is Of pea-green. it is, l find
Sometimes called the Cabbage Turnip.
LONGEVITY.
A nexpo man. AGED about $50 wears