The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-04-23
pEC'AYED 'TCRNEpS.

observed in the last number of the Farmer, IN
article from the Farmers Cabinet, in which it is sta
ted that this disease is the consequence Of wet or
too retentiyc sUblo. That soil of this descrip-
ton is not Suitable to the cultivation of tUrnips, is
generally admitted; but how does Mr. John Sturscs
account Cor the rottng ofcrop3 on land where there
is no such cause existing? The rot, popularity
called, is often found to prevail on free and ligh,
soils as well as on those of more heavy texture,
and indeed in situations where there is no subsra-
tum for yars and even ro3s below the suffice
The farm which | cultivate is 4 free sandy loan,
and so open that in order to obtain water it is ne
ccssary to dig from eighty TO ninety feet. 20 water
can DO obtained in the village short ofthat distance,
bat we have often had rotten turnipsin great album
Dance even in this soil, MS well as on the slopes of
our emnences, where the soil is so light, that in
order to prevent the surface mould from being
washed away by heavy rains and showers, we have
found it necessary to haul on clay and muck. Irllr
Sturgcs theory be correct, the tap-rOos of or
ruta bagas, like those of the Ohio parsnps, must be
rather long Agan---NIr Sturgcs assures us that
the grub never attacks the tumips, unless when
previously discussed, Bat until he proves that the
.ap,root of the ruta baga is capable of pcmcating
a light sandy soo earth, to the depth ofSo to 90
feet from the surface land of tipping upon the stag
naat (?) waters of the earth's interior, shall re-
cct the latter theory, as no less unsatisfactory than
the first. H. D. W.
UM9Aam, .M,, .qprH j, l84l
The article from the Farmers Cabinet, refer
red TO by our correspondent, was as far from being
satisfactory to us as to him. But was an attempt
to exhibit the cause of frequent losses of a crop
which many of our farmers wish TO raise. The al
tempt was praisc-worhy. This matter Of rot in
the ruta basa is serious evil if The cause can he
asccraiaed, and rules given by which the action Of
the cause can be avoided, great good will be con-
ierred upon our community Ii will give us pleas
ure to receive information, or even hints and con-
jec!urcsupon the subject, from any Of our readers,
We have seen this root when it was impossible
that superintendent moisture in the subsoil could
produce it: in one season il prevailed more among
that part of the crop which was sowod (about the
first Of juno) upon unitrmencd dung, than Upon
the part MANFRED with mixture Of ground bones
and ashes. And more in each Of these lots than IN
those sowed ab0u, the first of July. This was in
1888 :and the clop that year was not by anynicans
failure. In 1899, we sowed upon fresh manure
from the barn coler on the last wednesday of
May. Land, light lOam--subsoil DRY. This crop
was very badly injured. We conjaciured that the
failure was owing either to the early sowing, or the
fresh state Of the manrre. In 1870, we sowcd
where the manure had been applied III, preceding
autumn, and the same evil was experienced,
The season Of sowing and the condition and ma
,urc Of manure or soil, it is not improbable have
influences in increasing or diminishing this rot
But what the proper season for sowing is? what
the safest soil and subso what the best kind of
manurc' what stage Of decomposition should the
manure be in these questions our experience and
observations cannot answer. We are in the dark
And we put the question distinctly to any man who
can, OF to any one who thinks he can answer it
What is the cause Of rot in the ruta baga :-Ep.
W L. Fdrmcr.