The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-08-10

turniDs: ploW II OF the same TINE a
the corr land. and when ever that
crop is narrowed or cultivated, the
root land receives like attention. At
first this NAV seem a waste Of labor,
but II can be readily perceived the
finer tilth such practice is calculated
TO effect. but especially the economy
Of labor when the seed Is sown-
With each previous movement 81 the
soil a new surface was exposed, and
with each the latent seeds Of weeds
had opportunity TO germinate, and
were DESTROYED, thus Staying thou
sands Of formidable enemies to the
turnip crop. Now, all this may seem
q small matter to some farmers, but
we take leave to tell them that sys-
TEN and method in farming, az IN
manufactures and other industrial
pursuits. will hereafter alone pay,
the increasing cost Of labor, and al
else incidental to the culture OF the
soil. must make intelligent, methodlc
feldlabor indispensable. sllP-shou
tilace viii certainly bring men INTO
debt. It's true the process described
above cannot be observed under all
circumstances, as in the South, where
turnips arc frequently grown with
most sure success within the bounda-
~ Of the COW pen, bat, even there,
several plowiDgs might be given pre-
paratory to the seeding.
In the latitude Of Philadelphia, we
begin to think Of sowing ruta bagas
about the 10th Of July, and, if every
thing is 10 readiness, make our first
sowing by the middle Of the month.
The process is us:-Plow the land
level. harrow lengthwise and cross
wise. getting il into fine tilth, then
draw shallow burrows two and one
half feet apart three feet Is better
where there is plenty Of room to
sparc): ia these burrows the manure
is spread Il may consist Of any fer
tilizing material within reach. OF.
course dec0mposed matter is the best,
whether It be vegetable or animal:
and here, we remark, it is G good
plan to prepare in advance a compost,
which viii readily disintigrate when
spread. Where such is not at hand,
any Of the approved fertilizers may
be resorted to, but be III and buy
only from parties Of good repute, Of
which. doubtless there are many.
When the fertilizer Of a s~uperpbos-
phate or other commercial manure,
at about equal cost, at the rate OF
5O0lbs, per acre. has been spread, it
is q good practice 10 remove the hind
teeth from an ordinary c%ultivatOr so
as 20 adapt it 10 the width Of the
furrow, and pass it once o7er the fer
t%ilizer, thus Incorporating it with the
soil. That done, the soil removed in
forming the burrows, aud little more
obtained on the opposite side Is re-
turned. This process will be found
70 form a ridge some inches higher
tan the level oftbe adjacent land.
Asst is not desirable in our eli
mate where heat and drought (rath-
than excess Of moisture, rs in Eng
land, from whence the practice is de-
rived prevails, we backdo to the
ridges until they are nearly level, and
which brings the seed about to be
sown rear the manure, SO important
to stimulate the young plant. Every
thing being now ready for sowing,
with a Mathews drill, which is made
TO open the furrow, deposit the seed,
close the furrow, and roll in the seed
r. necessary, we proceed to SOW. The
drill should be adjusted TO sow not
less than two pounds Of seed and
ono-half feet apart-not that SO much
seed is necessary, if any considerable
percentage vegitates, and escapes
the dy, the %scorching sun, and other
uniavorable influences. 1t is probable
that 1.-TWO ounces of seed could be
evenly distributed. each grain germi-
nate. and finally succeed, there would
be a sufficient number Of plants to
the acre; but it would be n very
unwise procedure to stint the seed
to save (for the present moment only
the pocket. The English, to whom
we look for instruction in root culture,
use much more than two pounds per
acre. but the turnip has been so gen
orally grown 10 their country for gen
crations, that the fly" fed AMI PAM
pered. has become q most formidable
pest; so much so that great difficulty
is sometimes found in securing a
" stand.
If the sowing, which we have
just described, should by any acct
dent have failed, pass along the ridg-
- a spike tooth harrow to destroy
4 weed seeds which may have
sprouted, and re-sow as before. II,
from the time lost, it may be deemed
too late to perfect a crop Of ruta
bagas with certainty, it may be bet
ter to make the resolving with fat
turnips, which mature in a shorter
season.
Surprising the first sowing a sue
cess. allow the plants to reach the
rough or second leaf, then proceed
thus. Taking a light twoiaoh steel
hoe in hand, and standing so as to
bring a corner Of the hoe in an Oh
lique direction with respect to the
line Of plants, and near TO them, the
operator walks backward, drawing
the hoe gently. and slightly skimmingI
the surface Of the soil, and with It al
young weeds which may have sprung
up contemporary with the crop; re-
turning the opposite side oftherow or
drill is taken, thus leaving only o
narrow line Of turnip plants, nearly
fee from weeds. After a few DAYS,
when they have grown somewhat
stronger. aad are too rank for the fly
to injure seriously, they may be
dumped which is performed by
taking a sharp, light steel hoe Of
suitable size, say two inches wide,
aud standing facing the row, cut
~crosswise, so as TO leave clumps of
plants at intervals of four to five
inches. At first the operator viii
cut timisly, tearing to destroy too
many; but in a little while be viii
have gained courage, and proceed
with increasing speed. II is surpri
sing with what CELEBRITY such work
nav be performed by an expert, which