Report of the Result of an Experiment on Turnips, 1803. Kinds of Turnip, and mode of Culture. Weight, per acre, computed from actual weight on eight square yards, Broad Cast, and about forty-six Drilled. Of Bulbs. Of Tops. Of both. Specific gravities of Bulbs, Nov. 30, 1803; average of three sizes. REMARKS. The soil a sandy loam, all manured alike, and sown at the same time, The yellow bullock, broad cast, supposed to owe its superiority to the drilled, being hoed at the usual distance; whereas the top being very small, the distance ought to have been less, a circumstance not known then, but which showed itself, and was allowed for in the bread cast The yellow bullock found not to stand the frost. Nov. 30th, 1903. C. MASON, Experimenter; L. SEYMOUR, and W. TAYLOR, Visitors. Kinds of Turnips and mode of culture. Report of an Experiment on Turnips, in 1803-4. Weight, per acre, computed from actual weight of eight square yards, in Broad Cast, and about forty-six in Drilled. Of Bulbs. Of both. Proportion Reduced of Bulb in the weight of the whole plant. proportion of on an acre. Reduced proportion of weights of Bulbs on an acre. Specific gra- Specific gravity of Bulb, vity of Bulb, on an averagejon an average of 3 sizes, on of 3 sizes, on Nov. 28, 1803. Mar. 28, 1804. Or Tops. Dittto, drilled at 301 Inches. 29 18 0 0 4 5 3 5 34 3 3 5 ,875 1.777 1.809 ,907 ,790 Norfolk White, Broad Cast. 28 17 7 12 12 1 7 5 40 19 7 3 Ditto, drilled ,704 2.133 1.748 at 30 Inches. 32 10 0 0 8 5 2 3 40 15 2 3 ,997 2,120 1.966 922 ,770 REMARKS -The soil was a rich sandy loam, manure the same to all. The superiority of weight in the broad cast yellow bullock and Swedish, is supposed to have arisen from the smallness of top in these kinds, which was allowed for in heeing the broad cast, but could not be equally allowed for in the drilled, because the latter are " set out," or hoed, for the first time, at an earlier period, when the difference of top is not obvious, nor had this difference been adverted to in regulating the stitches. In the Norfolk white, to which the labourers had been accustomed, the drilled appear with their usual superiority. J. R. FENWICK, and JAMES CLARK, Visitors ; C, MASON, Experimenter. Weight of Turnips and other Green Crops at the Schoose, 1807. Weight of Ditto of Tops. Total. Width Number of Square of Mean Weight. Acre. White 29 125 4.129 34 94 32 18171 4/ 9 pay the of gathering; expense should it do I have yet to prove how far the 1000 headed cabbage will WEIGHT OF GREEN CROPS, (PER ACRE,) 1808. Winscales white globe turnips. 34 : 14 33 Hunday white globe turnips Cole, broadcast, sown Oct. 17,...... 14 96 ... : Swedes, sown in drills, Nov. 9 61 Do transplanted.... The worst transplanted The worst in drills... 11. 9 2 Hundred-headed cabbages Kohlrabi Carrot tops 1774 After the rate of four stone per day, an acre would supply food for one beast for 600 days. At the rate of two stone of hay per day, it would require seven acres and a half; but say seven, allowing the half acre for the straw likewise given. We ought, in striking the balance in favour of green crops, to take into the account its impoverishment of the ground by hav, and the improvement by green crops. The drill husbandry, under judicious management, is the best mode of improvement, and might be alternately practised with green crops till the end of time. I assume, I assume, and in so doing I believe I rather under than over-rate green crops in stating the comparative scale of feeding with hay, as seven to one. The expense attending the making and getting of hay is, in many parts of the kingdom, very great, and liable to much disappointment, both as to quantity and quality. In the north of England greater comparative losses are sustained, from the effect of climate, in saving our hay than even our grain. There are many chances in favour of green crops, from their being sown at different seasons, and, in case of failure, the being able either to change or to renew them. The advantages of feeding with green crops are, the saving of rent, and the profits of a great stock upon a small quantity of land. Some deduction from this may be stated for the additional buildings which would be required for stall feeding and soiling; but this would be trifling, and bear no proportion to the returns it might fairly be expected to make, and the rents which would be consequently given in consideration of these conveniencies. Potatoes and carrots, &c. will exceed seven times the comparative feeding of hay; and both these crops have the further advantage of being conveyed by water carriage, with comparatively little risk, from districts where rents are from 15s. to 20s. per acre, to places where five or six pounds are paid, and labour proportionably high. What encouragement does this hold out for the improvement of lands distant from populous towns, that have the advantages of water-carriage! Summer |