The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-07-15
FALL TIhNIPS.

THIS crop should be seeded about the 18TH
of this month, and we, therefore, Shall give
directions for its culture.
Soil for Turnips.--A deep fertile sand or
sandy loan.
Preparation Of The Groun'.-TLe ground in
which turnips grow should he ploughcd deep,
the deeper the better. Sound, dry soil may,
with advantage be plonshed 8, 10 or even l.
inches deep. To ensure the greatest benefit
from the manure applcd-witht the exception
of bone dust-onc half should be Laughed in
to the full depth Of the burrows and then the
other half be ploughcd in about inches
deep, or narrowed in, to give an early start
to the plants and force them into the rough
leaf. Bonc-dust should be narrowed in, j st
before sowing the seed. ,.
KINDS and quantities Of lann,e.-15 loads OF
we'll rotted cow or horse dung ,--15 loads OF
fresh sleeps dung, 10 loads of half or well
rotted sleeps dung 10 bushels Of bone dust,
10 bushels of ashes, . bushels of salt, and |
bushel Of plaster, to lie mixed together and
left in the bulk two weeks, or bushels Of
acid, diluted with lC0 lbs. ofwatcr. Stir the
acid and water we'll together. Place the
bones in tub or vat, pour one-third of the
diluted acid over them, stir the bones while
the acid is being poured over them, ne t day
pour one-third more of the acid over the
bones, stirring as before, and the succeeding
day pour the remaining third of the acid oyel
the bones, stirring them as directed before.
In u few days the bones will be sufficiently
dissolved, when they must be mixed with all
equal quantity of ashes; when this is done,
the bones will be fit to be applied to tie
ground, which must be previously ploughed,
narrowed and rolled. Spread the dissolved
bon. broadcast, harrow them in and roll the
ground, tl.en SOW the turnip seed, harrow
them very lightly in with u light one horse
harrow, and roll the ground; or 400 lbs. Of
Guano, mixed with bushcl Of plaster aud =
bushels of salt, to be ploughed in inches
deep. Either of the above manures will grow
an acre of turnips and grow them we'll
Quantity Of seed per acre. ID. of turnip
seed mixed with twice its bulk of sand will be
enough Ior an acre, II tIie Seeu NC caFeluliy
aud skillfully sown. 1t may however be best
to SOW II lbs. to guard against unskitulness,
and allow for the destruction Of the plants by
insects.
Preparation Of the Sced-Soak the seed "a
hours in fish oil, then drain offthe oil, and
dry the seed with ashes, SCOT, slakcd lime, or
plaster. or a mixture of the whole. Seed
thus soaked gcrrnlnate quicker than if sown
without having been soakcd--the odour of
the oil is rcpcllant to insects, while the small
quantity of carbon which the seed imbibe
during the time it is being soaked, serves to
assist the plants in their incipient growth.
Top.dresstng.- matter what the manure
used, it would be advantageous to the growth
of the turnips, if the ground was top-dressed
with 10 or 20 bushels of slakcd ashes per acre.
After Culture.-When the plants first come
mp, early in the morning while the dew is Oh
tktm dust them with ashes, or mixture of
equal parts Of ashes, plaster. SCOT and salt---a
bushcl of the mixture will answer for an acre.
This busting must be continued, early in the
morning, for several successive mornings, un-
til the plants get into tho rough leaf, when
they will be safe from the attacks of the in
sects that destroy them, and render resecding
so often necessary.
When the plants begin to bottle, that is,
to form the bulb, run harrow through them.
This operation serves the double purpose Of
partially thinning out the lants, and work
ing them at the same time .--tmer Ermer