The Red Cloud chief., 1882-10-20
Hints About Turnip Raising.

There is no late or second crop thai,
can be more easily grown. or more
quickly brought TO maturity. than one
OF the straplcavci yarict.e, oi turnips.
And on almost any place where vegeta-
bles are grown can he found at this sea-
son a piece II land where this crop can
be conveniently grown. The turnip
crop - often cons dcred n coarse and
common one. but We learn To appreciate
IL when il cannot readily be obta neil.
n was shown by the high rate, paid for
the almost worthless foreign iurnips
which were imported the pas; winter.
IL IL Is intended To raise turnips large
ly, and 10 the work OF cultiyatiEy by
horse power, the sowing should always
be done with that end IN view. ~ in y
field where such n crop Is grown there
can be no greater mistake than that Of
having the rows too close together. thus
preventing horse ~cultiyat on.
In the cultivation Of all root crops the
soil should be fine. smooth and rich. the
latter being highly Is entail To- the pro-
duction OF fine roots. The land should
also be- as free from weeds and weed
seeds n Iossiblc. a noted onion-
grower said. n few years since. that he
who plants onions on wccly ground
will repent il all summer on his hands
and knees; and the same is true in a
.ncasurc Of turnip culture. Tufnip-
growers who desire the bcs; results pre-
fer To have the soil for this eros prepared
n few weeks or months ahead, in order
to have il thoroughly settled. 1hcy
are sometimes grown as a second crop
to follow pease without blowing the soil
airesh. IL the soil be dry. a good degree
OF iirmness can be given 10 IL by rolling
il but wet land should never be rolled.
IL the manure be fine and can be a.
Piled literally. il may be spread broad
cast and very lightly plowed in. or har-
rowed in with u heavy harrow; or. II
preferred. burrows can be o,cned nj the
proper distances. and the manure spread
therein aud covered. This plan i more
economical OF the manure. II comper-
cial fertilizers are applied. it is best 10
put them as close TO the seed rs they
n be placed without doing injury. but
they should be somewhat Incorporated
with the soil in order to have them in
the best shape io- p!ant-food Good
wood ashes are a most excellent feriil-
izer for turnips. AMI this is one reason
why they do so well on new land that
has been burnt over. Potash. super
phosphate Of lime. and Peruvian cuano
arc also exccllen, fertilizers.
When land is abundant or rough. the
rows nav be three feet apart; but horse
cultivation can be done when the rows
are rs close rs two feet. A mistake is
SnnnAefn,C. r,Al. - ..rJrf 49, a.
rev of turnips. . practice which. on
dry soils, is often detrimental TO their
growth. The rows should be as nearly
straight as possible. To allow the cult
vator TO run evenly and close 20 the
rows. thereby saving time in boeing.
Plenty of seed should he used. as it in
sures evenness Of plants in the rows.
which is not so likely 10 be obtained
when IL is sown sparingly. Turnip-seed
car be sown very satisfactorily with the
seed-drill. ~ its round shape causes il
TO distribute freely. As soon n the
plants appear. attention should be given
TO the weeds. Nowhere in hc5 icul,ural
operations Is "a stitch IN time saves
nine" . true. II weeds are attended To
in season, il not only saves much time
and labor in removing them. but the
young plants are left u~ndis,urbed. To
insure a good crop. the soil should be
kept mellow and free from weeds
throughout the season
Thinning should be done as soon ~
the plants become strong enough to en- |
dure the operation. When the thinning
requires considerable labor. il may be
to n great extent with n hoe mar
row enough to keep the ;urnips the !
proper distance apart by striking out
the turnips in punches. so tina; those
remain may be thinned BY hand. !
The amoslnf of thinning necessary viii
depend considerably on the strength OF
the land. rich soil requiring \ greater
distance between the roots than poor
soil Shoald the turnipey become
troublesome. the plants should b dusted
with air-slscked lime or SCOT; but these
pests do not usually do much damage
after the plants attain their second
leaves IN. y. Erasssacr.