The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-08-13
"WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT TUR-
NTpSn

NlFo.
The following excellent extract is from
a little manual by SIessrs. ID. IAndrefh &
Son, of Philadelphia;
In the latitude of Philadelphia, we be-
gin to think of sowing Ruta Bagas about
the 10th of July, and, if everything is in
readiness, make our first sowing by the.
middle Of the month. The process ISL
thus Plow the land level, harrow length
wise and crosswise getting it into fine
tilth, then draw shallow furrOws, q feet
apart @ feet lis better, where there is
plenty Of room 10 'spareJ !; IN these fur
rows the manure is spread 1t may con-
sist of any fertilizing material within
reach. Ofcourse, decomposed matter is
the best whether it be vegetable or ami
NAL; and here We remark, 1t Is good
plan to prepare in advance compost,
which will readily disintegrate when
spread. Where such is not at hand, any
Of the approved commercial fertilizer
may be resorted to, but be sure and buy
from parties of good repute, of fertilizer
(if super-phosphate, or other CONNER
cial manure, at about equal cost, at the
rate of 500 lbs. per acre. has been spread,
it is a good practice to remove the hind
teeth from an ordinary cultivator, so as
to adapt it to the width of the furrow and
pass it at once over the fertilizer, thus
incorporating it with the soil, That done,
the soil removed in forming the furrows,
and little more obtained on the oppo-
site side, is returned. This process will
be found to form ridge some inches
higher than the level of the adjacent
land. As it is not desirable, in our eli
mate, where heat and drought (rather
than excess of moisture, as in England,
from whence the practice of ridging is
derived) prevail, we back down the ridg-
es until they are nearly level, and which
brings the seeds about to be sown, near
the manure, so important todimulate the
young plants. Everything being now
ready for sowing, with drill, which is
made to open the furrow, deposit the
seed, close the flrrows, and roll in the
seed if necessary, we proceed to SOW.
The drill should be adjusted TO SOW not
less than two pounds Of seed per acre, if
in drill or rows q feet apart, t,-not thatso
much seed is necessary, if any considera-
BILE percentage vegetables, and escapes the
fly, the sCorching sun, and other unfa-
vorable influences. 1t is probable that
if two ounces of seed could be evenly dis
tributed each grain terminate, and final
ly succeed, there would be sufficient
number of plants to the acre but it
would be very unwise procedure to
stint the seed to save (ior the present
moment only the pocket. The English,
towhom we look for instruction in root
culture, use much more than two pounds
per acre, but the turnip has been so gen.
orally grown in their country for genera
tions, that the "hy,p fed and pampered,
has become o most formidable pest so
much so that great difficulty is some-
times found in securing Stand"
If the sowing which we have just de-
scribed should by any accident have fail
ed, pass along the ridges spike-tooth
harrow, to destroy any weed seed which
may have sprouted, and re-sow, as before.
If, from the time lost, it may be deemed
too late to perfect crop of Ruta Bagas
with certainty, it may be better to make
the Resolving with flat turnips, which
mature in shorter season. Supposing
the first sowing success, allow the plants
TO reach the rough or second leaf, then
proceed thus Taking a light two-inch
steel hoe in hand, and, standing so as to
bring a corner of the hoe in an oblique
direction with respect to the line of plants
,, and near to them, the operator walks
backward drawing the hoe gently, and
lightly skimming the surface of the soil,
and with it all young weeds which may
have sprung up cOtemporary with the
crop; returning, the opposite side of the
row or drill is taken, thus leaving only a
narrow line of turnip plants, nearly free
from weeds. After few days, when they
have grown somewhat stronger, and are
too rank for the fly to injure seriously
! they may be "clumped," which is per
r formed by taking sharp, light steel hoe
{ of suitable size, say two inches wide, and
l standing facing the row, cut crosswise
: so as to leave clumps Of plants at inter
walls of four or five inches. At first the
operator will cut timidly, fearing to de
= stroy too many but sn little while he
Q will have gained courage, and proceed
/ with increasing speed. 1t is surprising
r with what celerity such work may bl
5 performed by an expert, which any on'
may become with an hours practice. W.
;, have boys who can pass along row
. cutting as they 90, at half the usual walk
u ing speed. When the plants left il
e clumps have fully recovered from thr
s disturbance, which is unavoidable, AM
$ again stand erect, the process of 'sing
+ ling" commences; that is simply pullin
out with the finger and thumb, and cast
/, ing aside all but the most promising plan
4 in each group or clump.
e After the lapse of a few days when tn
Q selected plants have become upright an,
$ self-sustaining, very shallow furroy
y may be cast from each side, the cart
thus removed meeting in a ridge between
y the rows. If the weather is damp the,
IS may stand thus few days, each day ad
;, ding greatly to their strength but if tn
!, weather be hot and dry, II is better +
= proceed at once with the hoeing, whicl
u done, the ridge of earth is to be levelet
down by spike-tooth harrow, or, in it
- absence, q cultivator with well-wor
20 teeth, taking care not to cast the cart
e upon the young plants. This process o
a- | plOWlNg lIOn luS pltlillSj anu CultlNdllll
! Immediately after to return the soil, wi
~ need to be repeated several times durin
the season of growth; indeed, it may b
practiced with great advantage so Ion
,e as the space between the rows is not oh
o structed by foliage-on each repetition
n inserting the pillow deeper than befort
n Thus the crop will at length stand, dali
v increasing in vigor and bulk, until tn
l. time arrives for placing it in winter quai
ters-in the latitude Of Philadelphia, nc
later than the Goth November.
81 METHOD OF SAVING FOR WINTER FEEDING
! The English have some advantage i
: climate over us of Pennsylvania thoug
. not of the South, which admits Of feed
,f ing the bulbs as they stand in the groun
IL. ,mkr.a L.