1802.] Hints towards ſecuring the Turnip Crop, 32 1

which, as it lengthens, begins to branch out, being covered with very fine hairs réſembling down. When the radicle has pro- ceeded about half an inch, it ſends forth its germ, confiſting of the ſtem and ſeed-leaves, with the bud-bf the future plant in embryo,‘Theſe ſeed-leaves are ſuppoſed to contain proper nou- riſhmeat for the plant.during the firſt ſtage of its growth; the radicle being then to0 ſmall and weak to furniſh food ſufficiently delicate. Every injury, therefore, done to theſe leaves, either from being punéured by inſets, or deprived of 2 ſupply of mciſture, muſt aſliít in checking the growth of the plant; and if it appears that one of theſe may be prevented by particular ma- nagement, a‘coufiderable part of the evil will be removed.

‘Fhe Rev. Dr, Stacy ſuſpe@ing that a lack of moiſture was the: grand cauſe of the failure of this crop, a few years ago, made the following experiment, in order to diſcover what depth of ſowing the ſeed of the turnip, is moſt favourable towards its ob taining a due proportion of nouriſhment in rhe early ſtage of its growth.

“In order to aſcertain,(ſays be,) whether any advantage would be derived by ſowing the ſeed deeper, under an idea that the germ would require«more time to force its way to the ſurface, and the radicle would at the ſame time be increaſing its powers downwards, and conſequently be‘ more capable of withſtanding the ſun’s heat, thirty-two turnip ſceds were ſown at diferent depths, in glaſs-veſſels, filled with common garden mould, and ſunk into the earth; on the forth day after ſowing they were examined, and the reſult was as follows:

Seed ſown at 4in. depth, had ſhot forth a radicle 3 in.long, a germ 1 inz

3 ditto ditto 27 ditto. ditta# 2 ditto ditto 2 ditto ditto# L ditto ditto 17 ditto ditto x

on:an average.|

Indeed, moſt writers on this ſubje& have allowed that the heat of the ſun is inſtrumental in a certain degree in cauſing this uns happy failure, but not one of them, in my opinion, attributes to this agenta ſufficiently powerful influence.;

Mr. Ellis in his& Chiltern and Vale Farming explained,” after máintaining the depredations“of‘the flug, the fly, and ca- ELN concludes,“and ſometimes the ſcorching heat of‘the un?

In the. new edition of‘Miller's Di&iönäárty,“ under the article < Braſſica,’‘are theſe oblervations, exiraÆéd chiefly from agri- cultural writers of the preſeAr day.“Phe deſtru&@ion, how- ever, which is imputed to the fly,‘ortó ſpeak more properly the ‘Turnip-beetle, ſometimes originates in the ſeaſon. When the ſoil is fully and permanently moiſtened by a fteeping rain, the ſeed will vegetate, the plants will puſh into rough leaf, and riſe without a check, though the beetle, and their other inſe& ene-