The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-07-11
From the Southern Farmer.
TU RWIPs:
THEIR CULTIVATION, PRESERVATION AND Use.

\ THEIR CULTIVATION, PRESERVATION AND USE.
\ This is the month for a full and iudicious
preparation Of the soil for the successful
growth Of turnips, SO much needed in winter
and early spring for the health and comfort
of the many hali,staryed cattle. swine and
horses, which disgrace the farms of sore per-
sons, who style themselves devotees to hu-
manity, and practical tilers Of the soil.
| On the score Of humanity, ii for nothing
else, would advise all such farmers, how
ever limited their means, time, or area of
acres, TO devote one acre to the culture of the
ruta.haga turnip, which in my estimation
stands pre-eminent amongst the various tribes
of the turnip family.
To the American Farmer, am indebted
for my first attempt, and ultimate success in
the culture of ruta. baga, as well as other
crops. 10 those who have not the above va
luable periodical to refer to, for the success
ful cultivation Of this root, propose to sub
init, through your columns, my mode of ope-
ratiOns. The American Farmer advises sow.
ing carly in June whereas, for this climate,
! prefer July, having found from experience
that the product Of the early June planting
is more liable to become pithy. consequently
more apt to decay after being stored.
Like all other turnps, the soil best adapted
to uta-baga, is deep rich sandy one, though
heavy crops can be made upon a stiff soil,
with proper preparation and cultivation.
Whether light or stiil, the land should be
well and repeatedly plowed, narrowed and
rolled, at intervals oi one week from the lst
Of June till seeding time, which should not
be before the 20lh June, nor later than the
LIST OF August. Later seeding sometimes an
swers; but in order to obtain heavy crop,
the seed should be in the ground By the Goth
Of Jolly. Al the last plowing, which should
besi .aseai iaJGui.ao~ ,e.,'.,l
\ Peruvian guano, turned under with single
1 horse plow, and then harrow and roll. Al
4 Ter which, stake aud run off the rows two
lee, apart and six inches wide, with trowel-
hoe, or double-wingcd pillow, and into the
burrows opened, put well rutten stable, hog
pen, or farm yard manure, at the rate OF ten
horse-cart loads per acre, twenty live bushels
10 the load.
After the furrnws shall have been filed
with manure, to save time and ecOnomise la
bor, two very essential items in every prac-
tical farmers calendar, run with small turn
ltlH llDMt tENHl liit W ENhS NV - +" 80
row upon the manure, forming slight ridge
, Upon these ridges, and Of course over th'
manure, open with sharp stick-by som'
called a ,libble- small burrows, one inch Wild
and two inches deep; and with the drill, 9
by hand, seed al the rate Of two pounds pc
: acre. This Is heavy seeding, but tue Ger
tainty Of good stand Of plants more thai
compensates for the additional cost OF an ex
ira pound Of seed Cover with the rake o
hoe two inches deep, leaving no clods upo
: the seed.
Preparation ef Std and 4.t1e, Culture.
Soak tie seed twenty four hnurs in fish Q
/. rancid oil, and afterwards roll them IN ashes
l. plaster or sand, for the purpuse Of separatln
u them from each other. For the first ten day
Z after the plants make theirappcarancc, sprin
!, kle them freely while the dew is upon theI
II with equal parts Of plaster, SCOT and ashc'
d or super.pho.phatc Of lime. The last woul
1. be more advantageous 70 their after grOwtl
e il applied AZ the rate Of two hundred pound
per acre. Hoe aud hand.weed them TO stan
eight inches between each plant. The v;
cant land between the ridges should be kcI
clean with cultiya,ur, trnwel hoe, or sma
- iWfNlHE ViuWs uNluH NdlOlul hNA W SWtei -
= lower leaves with dirt.
With tile above preparation, and fayori
u. bic season, We may reasonably calculate upt
& harvesting from six hundred TO one thousar
a. bushels per acre. The last number Of bushe
have made by measurement.
prsen ioa through " inter until it'e Spring.
: After the first heavy frost. aud before y
may expect hard freeze, have your roo
pulled Up, and carefully handled 80 as not
bruise them; cut of tue tops 70 within o.
inch of the root. Ifnot provided with a 70
cellar, place them in piles OF conical shap
mounds, containing from thirty to hlty b
- shells each. Around these mounds place co
stalks vertically, six inches thick over the
s,. place dirt taken from the base Of the moun'
M forming compact covering one loot thiC
l.e- and preventing the water from settling v
- der the roots. In finishing the top, inscr
wisp Of straw, TO be removed for short til
after every wet spell, oallow the damp c.
fined air to escape. When wanted for u
remove the whole mound opened TO your ba
OF place Of consumption, to be kept dry. !
M less this prccautiun is used, the turnips y
m speedily rot. BY practising The same dir
lions herein given. tie ruta baga can be Y
as perfect. sweet, and tender, until April
s. as when they we're taken up.
- Manner cf Feeding.
Various and diversified are the opinion
farmers upon the subject of root feeding