Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-06-07
A CIR l G. u LTUR AL.
From the American Farmer for Jun


the pas. winter and The early par, Of spring,
IN many ports Of the country, owing TO the
want OF provender, ives gres'. amounting IN
some cases 10 death by starvation; we do
'rus, that humanity,a as well as interest, will
prompt our farmers and planters 10 put IN
good breadlhs of land in the ru,a-bsga tur-
MP. We point to this particular root now,
for many reasons, and among the rest, the
following for stock feeding this root stands
deservedly high, is productive, and more
nuiri,ive than any other Of the turni p fami.
ly; for spring use, it is very good table
vegetable, and should, we think, enter into
very general culture, both for stock feeding
and for The table the more especially should
sny other variety Of ,urnips, is easily kept,
and retains its edible qualities to very late
period Of The spring, long after other kinds
resse TO be fl for table use. For cattle and
sheep, il is equal 10 almost any other roo.
grown. and is good 10 be occasionally fed
to horses, Gu. fine, mixed with cut straw or
hay, IS an alternative feed, and as the Ru,a-
bses turnip when properly cultivated yields
we'll, and very few acres, or even one,
would add greatly 10 the feeding resources
Of the farm.
Time Of So,oing.-When raised as stock
food exclusively, early sowing is desirable,
as tia. secures the growth of large roots,
end of course an increase Of quantity
When, therefore, intended for such use, they
should be gotten IN between The 18th and
25th Of June: if wanted for table use, the
seeding may be delayed until The 18th of
July. II would, however, even for such
purpose, be bee. to get the seed in during
the 6rst week Of the latter month.
Soil adapted to their Cu1ture-Like ev.
cry other variety Of the turnip, the Ruta-ha
ga delights mos. in deep, light, rich sandy
moulds; grass-swsrds and clover Ieys, suit.
ing them best, next TO new grounds end
we take II that The reason why new grounds
favor the growth Of turnips more than old
ones, lie because it finds more potash in the
former than in the latter. The turnip has
been called the potash plant, and we'll i,
may be, for its ashes when analysed, is
found to consist Of Sc 60 paris Of the salts
Of potash and soda, and IS 40 of the salt of
msgnesia and lime, hence it would seem to
follow that whatever organic msnures that
may be applied, ashes mus. form a promi-
men. par. or something else yielding potash,
if the soil cultivated in them be no, new
grounds.
Preparation Of the ground As our res-
ders are pretty well awsre, W. GO for thor
ougbness 10 eli preparations of the soil, bu,
IN this crop i. is especially necessary
Where il msy be practicable, the land sh ould
be ploughed two or three times, and plouqh h.
ed deeply, say from 10 10 inches in depth,
TO be accompanied each time BY 1epeaied
haTowings and rollings, so AZ TO reduce The
soil to the finest possible subdivision. lfil
SO happens tina. only one ploughiDg can be
given, that must be executed with The great
est 9icety and exsctness, Of the depth above
nsmed,- and if possible, the lend should be
subsoiled q. the same time The filth 10 be
reduced to the utmost fneness, by harrow
ing, cross-bsrrowing, and rolling.
II iniended TO grow the Ruta bsgss broad.
rasi, the manure must be evenly spread and
pioughed in. When thus grown, they will
require one-,hird if not one.hslf more
manure. When raised in drills ss they ough,
10 be, the manure must be spread evenly in
drills, as hereinafter directed.
Preparation Of the ground for drilling-
The ground being prepared, by ploughing,
narrowing and rolling, as before directed,
run burrows north and south from 20 to "a
inches apart, a inches deep. Into these
burrows distribute your manure as equally
as possible the manure being deposited 10
The burrows, cover i, with plough, and run
Q light harrow over the burrows.
Drilling in the seed.-Your burrows be-
ing prepared ss above, The next thing is 10
drill in the seed, which is best done by
drilling machine. If you have none, buy
one, for every farmer should possess tina,
machine. Tske your drilling machine and
drill IN the seed on The top of The line OF
the burrows prepared as before directed, and
your work will be done, as The drilling ma
chine will make The drills, drop The seed,
and roll all al one and the same time, thus
economising time, labor and money.
But if you have no drilling machine, then
you mus. adop. the mex. bes. plan; stretch
a line slong the centre Of the furrow, end
with a marking rake, or the corner of hoe,
trace drill inch deep, drop The seed from
The mouth of quart bottle, or lin seeding
horn. The borle, or horn must have in il
equal quantities of seed and sand, end be
.kep. constantly on The shake as the sower
proceeds, in order tina. en- equal and Thin
distribution OF the seed may be effected
The driller mus. be followed by hand
with rake, to cover The seed with the rake,
and press the soil down on them with the
back part Of il.
Kinds and quantities. Of naanure.-For
broadcast culture, i. will take Is to 20 two
horse carloads Of we'll rotted manure, in
which there should be mixed 40 bushels OF
Stacked ashes: if guano be used 400 lbs Of
Peruvian gusno, mixed with l bushel OF