The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-05
Fertilizers and Turn1pS.

Reading the article N Fertilizer
Makers. page 215. | cannot understand
the expectation Of good results from
turnips not Sown or fcrtilIZed till the
end of August: for by the time the
tops had fourished and got ready TO
feed and make some fine, heavy %turnlds,
cold weather would put a stop TO far
Their growth. 1t l. not stated how the
%tIrnips were thinned IA and at what
distance they were left apat. | have
no interest in taking sides with the fer
tiliZer makers. and believe there il very
great imposition in the manufacture OF
the so-cal.cd fertilizers, and doubtless
much .or, | should say, most OF what
Is asserted is true. II Is right TO add
that fertilizers III a general way act
much better with roots than on any
other crop. and if the planting is done
early enough to give time for the bulbs
To increase IN size whenever the tops
are high and very large, the turnlp or
beet, OF whatever it is, will come to a
corresponding size. Therefore it i
pretty certain that had the turnip seed
been planted a month earlier. had the
cultivation been on the Scotch system,
and had tie plants III the rows been
Il out to about eight inches apart,
there would have been d fine crop OF
unitornI-sized turniIs. which would
have been at least iUuI-told the weight
PEI rood.
| wish to give ito %o.tense to any one,
but ii the matter III growing roots.
American farmers are 4 tItl century
behind Europeans, amt u hundred
years ace the lied culture Of turnips
was rather farther advanced in Scotland
and England than III the present day IL
the United States. Ny gFeac-grand-
father was living when wasa little boy,
and he used to talk OF farming as Tar
his parents and grandpa. cnts Ill !. q |
Icncnibtg. m;eh ciea.er many th.ags
that happened % and EIolc years ago,
ana much that wa SAID then. It Is inter
esting to look back aI.i call to mind
what was talked over b tie cid folks
relating 10 the middle OF the preceding
century, and i is astonishing hcW very
similar the objection, to the pacad of
root hushandry we're thyi. 10 what they |
he.e at the present day.
y here my ancestors !,.mel as ten
lnt-, they grew ab.r; Gu bushels Of
morse beans per acre. ulal they ca:lc III |
rptation after wheat, am 1t ,ie tine | |
tstudmg 10 1t Was @tssto.!a 10 drill! |
or dIbDic the bcaG,. Witt t.eIoEs Wi.er
apa., than usual, yog Jnc purpose Of
sowing tirnlps at he ils5 cultivation.
Then. Just tHc same is with c0:n here,
there WoIll lie 4 niJe ~sl!tnkliug OF
small ttilnlps ate? the crop vas "a of
The way. Here Was ut tiiat tIIte Very
very little drilling, bat thcic We're men
who hoel and singled ont the plants IN
u Workmanllke manner ii from 81. 50 to
II per ache, according 60 The Weedy or
condition OF the land. The good
old souls would say they could not
think what tie world was coming 90
when the Scotch bailiils intro
luced the ridge system, but when the
younger farmers saw what this new
did in doubling the size OF the
swedes AMI turnlps. and TOW beautiful
y clean the hose cultivation kept the
land, and also bow the cutting Of the
sNedca with L machine made Tor the
purpose caused the sheep to thrive Very
faster, they zane INTO the saiHe
way OF growing and feeding roots, and
ID tine present day tie Scotch system is
.Ilu> ers.I IN England and the area has
gradually increased TIL every fourth or
nth arabic fed Is growing roots OF
some variety. Nearly al! the stable and
Jartyard manure Is used Tor thc man
Colds, carrots, swcdes and tu..li -. aud
anu Il p.auI..y ot bsne dust or o,her a.
.iticial manure is used to ado extra
Weigh, and carry them forward IN the
nos, Iupld way possible.
lt appears very remis. III the govern
ncnt 81 tie United States not 10 have
avs 50 framed that every either
cou.u he sem to prison ior se.iil.g
article not o coed as it is rene
.entel t. be. The loss to a
armer IS very great when lie
) deceived IN ana In
and there are nlSl e:torS appointed 10
watch the meat ma. ktts and c~ont>ca Z
III UiiWlOiesone JOINTS u 81 eases. ami
hese men, 70 ictain their positions anu
We satisfaction IT, Tie public. keen
.u.l 4 strict !oOn-uul ,hat J~I5SurpoSc,i
I Is very sexton ~ tainted meat es-
apes their eyes al.l Hoses. Now. if
rove nirent, through J!.c.r board OF
.sIlcu.tute, Wg,ha a ois:t competent
lictlta,s IL lI.Iec, .,.t Hal4faItMcI
manure, Il woGat be i wJnae FIJI GAN
. the flrlucrs.-G. T., a. -ii5anp iout
ry Gest}easua.