The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-07-22
From the Plough. Loom and Anvil.
RUTA BAGAS.

When in the pleasant and rich farming
town of Amenia, Duchess Co., N. Y, few
days since, we heard Of farmer mile or
two out of the village who was famed for
great crops Of Ruta Bagas. On visiting his
farm we found him a modest, unsssuming
man, but earnest and we think wise, in
bringing up his farm to a much higher pro-
ductiyeness than it had been in before he
had charge of it. There is nothing like
turnips, he said, for increasing the manure
heap; and il fed to milch cows Immediately
after milking, he is confident that they do
not in the least injure the flavor Of the milk.
We became satisfied that this gentleman
knows very well how to grow crops of tur-
nips, of eight, ten or twelve hundred bushels
to the acre, with as great certainty as at
tends most crops, without exorbitant ex-
pense for labor and fertilizers, and con-
sistently with leaving the soil in good
heart and the best tilth. We do not believe
the turnip crop as important for American
as for English farmers. This gentleman
does, and he certainly has right to his
opinion, has earned it, and has better right
to it than we have TO ours. But we agree
with him that whether this crop is as impor-
tant to us as to English farmers or not, it is
certainly of very considerable importance,
and we earnestly requested statement Of
bis mode Of culture, to which we have re-
ceiyed the following short but very valuable
reply:
Armenia, June II, 1857
Messrs. Editors Dear Sirs My mode
Of raising ruta bagas after a corn crop, is,
to plough at the same time as for oats, and
harrow; then plough eight inches, and
harrow twice up to time of planting; then
trench thirty inches apart, and manure in
the trench with twelve TO twenty loads OF
we'll rotted-manure then turn the burrows
back on the trench. That leaves il in ridges.
Rake the ridges OF lightly. Plant last week
in June or first week in July. Plant with
Aliens seed drill. Then leave them till the
plants are good size. Plough in clear,
warm day, with half mold board corn
plough. Turn the furrow TO the plants, and
If they are thick no matter if you cover
them half up. Leave them about three days,
and thin to six or eight inches. Plough
again If necessary, or cultivate. For rais-
ing ruta bagas on sod ground, plough
when plough for corn, seven inches deep.
Harrow the same as Tor corn, and cultivate
two or three times up TO the time Of plant
ing. Sow three hundred pounds Of guano
per acre, cultivate and harrow in three days
before planting. Plant with seed drill thirty
inches apart. When the plants are large
enough, plough with corn plough. Turn
the iurrow to the plants, not breaking the
sod thin as above, aud cultivate again il
necessary. HENRY W. PETERS.
P.s.-For the want Of double mold board
plough, | have not pursued the best plan.
would mark with marker that would
make six marks, and make the first one
straight, then let one tooth follow the mark
already made. Then with the plough above
named, ! would plough in the center Of the
mark. Then manure il you like in the
trench. Then split the ridges with the
plough. Hare ie rOws long il possible.
II. w. p.