The Kanzas news., 1857-07-25

use much larger quantities of manure.
Though this bulb has nearly ninety per
cent. of water In Its composition, it viii
not flourish In a poor soil. To get twenty
five or thirty tons from an acre of ground,
as is common there, requires large quanti-
ties of manure. The English farmer does
not hesitate to lay out from twenty to fifty
dollars in manuring and preparing single
acre for this crop, and finds that this ex-
penditure pays much better than any less
sum- So safe is this investment, and so
uniform is the practice, that in case of
change of tenants, little difficulty Is found
In estimating the value of turnip crop yet
in the ground, or the increased value of the
land prepared for turnips, where no crop
has been gathered. The farmer there has
one advantage over us In a mild Winter
climate, which allows this crop to remain
upon the ground, where il is fed by the
cattle and sheep. Thus the labor of gath
ering and storing the crop, SO necessary
here, Is saved.
Much as Nature has done for the neces-
sites of this crop in England art has done
still more. If the farmer there should at
tempt to grow turnips on the same kind of
soil often used here, undrained, plowed
shallow, and half manured, he would some
times fail as we do. The great want of
this plant seems to be a rich, cool soil,
where the moisture viii be seasonably fur
nished through the Summer. Turnip cul-
ture in this country shows that these are
the conditions of its healthy growth. On a
poor, exhausted soil, it does nothing. But
yard sheep at night for q month on few
square rods of the same field, and it will
produce a luxurious crop of white turnips.
Again, it does well on new, fresh cleared
land. The virgin soil of the forest is full
of vegetable matter, is light and spongy.
so as to retain moisture better than old lands.
Again, other things being equal, this root
does better within few miles of the sea-
shore than further inland. The presence of
the sea makes cooler and moister atmos-
phere.
These facts indicate the true policy of the
American farmer in regard to this crop.
He should not touch it, unless he is pre-
pared to furnish the plant the necessary
conditions of luxuriant growth. Ii he can
devote no more manure and labor to this
crop than he gives to land producing but
thirty bushels of corn to the acre, he is
wise in eschewing turnips. He may as
well stick to his text, that John Bull can
raise turnips, and Brother Jonathan cannot.
But if he believes that art can assist Nature
and remedy to some extent, defects of soil
and climate, let him plant turnips. If he
will take the pains they do in England,
we have no fear for the result. A soil may
be made rich, cool and moist, like the vir-
gin soil after the forest is cleared, where
turnips always flourish. Light sandy soils
are extensively used for this purpose, but
they are well furnished with manures and
vegetable matter. Wet soils and heavy
clays prove to be we'll adapted to this crop,
when underdrained to the depth of three
feet
The extensive cultivation of turnips for
the purpose of supplying feed for cattle
pertains to more advanced stage of agri-
culture than we have yet reached. But We
are quite confident that we shall attain it
before many years. It will make progress
with subsoil blowing, under draining, and
thorough manuring. From the general prin-
ciples here laid down, the farmer will per-
ceive what are the requisites of the piece of
ruta bagas he means TO plant.
This variety is frequently sown in June,
out a Ialr crop may De expected, II the SEED
is put in early this month. We advise all
who have cattle to feed in Winter, to expe-
riment with quarter or half acre prepared
in thorough manner, and mark the result.
The sooner they are put in now, the better.
For the numerous varieties of white turnips
a month later is time enough. In future
numbers, We shall discuss little more in
detail the preparation of the soil for this
crop, manures, varieties, methods of SOW
ing, after-culture, diseases and enemies,
and modes of storing for Winter use.