394 On the cultivation of Turnips. A4Dee.

Upwards of twelve months ago the Northumberland mode

of cultivating tat most üseful root, became the Subject of conversation amongst Several furmers in this neighbourhood, wbere it was previous]y unknown. This converzation was induced by the correspondence between A. N. aud your Nortolk friends; and as you may readily 5nppose(for you doubtless know how much farmers are wedded to old customs) a majority was in favor of the broadcast mode. In the course of the above correspondence, however some of their objec- tions were obviated by the statements and full explanation O1A.N: But still, 1 am Sorry to Say, the Northern mode has not been practised amongst us. . One insupportable. objection scemed to be the forming of the land into one-bout ridges; and. it was contended that it drilling was the most profitable mode, tbe 5ced might as well be Ssown in drills upon a flat Surface as upon the Small ridges, and thatthe former would continue an even, whereas the latter would produce an uneven surface, to the injury of the Succeeding crops.

Now, when it appears froi the late letters of Agricola

"Northumbriensis, that a flat'Surfäce may be obtained under

the north country method, most of our farmers Say,“ then why raise the one-boutl ridges, which are 80 troublesome and Expensive?"

This, I must confess, is a question to which I have not been able to give a SatisSfactory answer; for they did not tbink it Such, to be told that the northern farmers would not prefer the ridg?-work without finding their advantage in it.=- The results of the very accurate experiinents mentioned by A. N.; and his Statewent tbat drillmg upon a flat gurface, with intervals of twelve inches, is not better than the broad- Cast way, are not viewed as conclusive against their arguments; tor they Say“ he has not proved, or even asserted, that drills upon the flat Surface with intervals of tfwenty-Six inches, would not have been equally as productive as those upon tke Small ridges with like intervals."

After the pains A. N, bas taken to explain the northerh tur- nip culture, and its advantages, it way, perhaps, appear improper tv'request him to explain further; 1 Should be very 'glad, however, if he would advert to what 1 have Stated, and Point out his reason for the preference which the north country jarwers give to the one-bout ridges.=-This request 1 hope be will hav« the goodness 10 excuse, when he considers that I

am but y A YOUNG FARMER.

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