The result of the preceding observations is, that the storing of turnips, abstractedly considered, is attended with direct and unavoidable loss ; but, when viewed in reference to the climate and agriculture of is necessary in unfavourable situations, and ad vantageous in every other ;—necessary in high lands, where the severities of winter prevent turnips from be ing regularly carried off the ground to supply the con sumpt of cattle ; and advantageous, in low lands, by enabling the farmer to introduce wheat after turnips, where lie could otherwise obtain only a crop of oats or barley.
On Cabbages.
Though we have advocated the cause of turnip> with a degree of keenness adequate to the merits of the se veral varieties of which the family is composed, yet it is out of our power to bestow the like support upon cab bage culture, because we view it as much more hazard ous, far less profitable, and attended with infinitely more trouble than that of turnips, while the advantages to be derived from them are not, in our opinion, of a descrip tion to compensate the extra hazard and trouble thereby incurred. Cabbages have always been a rare article with the farmer, and it is to be hoped they will long con tinue to be so. Scarcely any plant requires more ma nure ; and none will scourge the ground more effec tually. Not wishing, therefore, to encourage the cul tivation of cabbages, except in gardens, we shall dis miss the subject without any further investigation.
On carrots.
We cannot say much more in favour of the carrot. than we have done of the cabbage husbandry. In fact, both are troublesome articles, and not to be thought of by actual farmers, who must remember term-time ; though both may be highly amusing and interesting to gentlemen who have no rent to pay, and whose welfare depends little upon the profit or loss arising from the mode of cropping exercised, or the value of the crops obtained. To this class of agriculturists we may say, that carrots require a rich and soft soil ; that deep ploughing ought to be given to the ground before the seeds are sown, and that they ought to be drilled and carefully hoed.
On Lucern, Burnet, and St Foin.
These green crops have often been greatly extolled; hut the small progress hitherto made in their cultivation, abundantly justifies the conclusion meant to be drawn, viz. that the climate of the British isles is unfriendly to their growth. In fact, with none of them will the like weight of crop be obtained as with good clover and rye grass ; and, this being the case, it need not excite won der that agriculturists should continue to use the plants which yield them the most bountiful return, and avoid exotics not suited to our climate.
The inif tent !Ionian write r, rpc.)/.. notch in commen• dation of locum, by them called Aledica ; but whether it got this name from being used as a medicine fur sick cattle, or because it was originally brought from the kingdom 01 Media, is uncertam. Coln indite status, that One sowing tvill last for ten years, and that it ought to be cut four, °hen six times, in a season. 11u acids, that it enriches the land, fintens all kinus of lean cattle, is a reniedy tor those that are sick; and that one jugerum (three-lc:units of an English will u Iced three horses for a whole year. Palladius speaks nearly to the same purpose in its praie ; and so does Pliny, with this difference, that lie asserts it will last th.rty years. These, to be sure, are important matters, though we entertain doubts 1.vItethur such crops as are mention ed by these Writers could at tins time be realized in the climate ol Italy, fir less in the inferior one of Great Britain. When Mr Du Hamel, a great admirer of lucern, speaks of feeding horses of all ordinary size, with five or six pound we iglu, of it per clay, NN e arc al most tempted to smile. The writings of this gentleman, and his friend Lulli de Chauteaucieux, are amply filled with commendations of lucent; but we must leave such people as are fond of exotic grasses to learn from these writers what arc their respeetke merits and pro perties.
In favour of burnet not much more can be said than of Mem,. San-Foin has, been sown more ex tensively than hornet, and with much greater success. Chalky loans and gravelly soils on a calcareous bottom are most proper for this grass. It is more adapted to hay man pasture ; and much heavier crops of this grass are obtained from thin lands than when clover is sown. In short, we consider San-•uin to lie a hardy kind of grass, well worth the attention of cultivators in upland districts, where the soil is obdurate and shallow, and where clover and rye-grass can with difficulty be raised to such a height as to stand the sidle. When sown, fresh seed ought constantly to be used, as the vegeta tion of old sec I cannot be depended upon. Four bush els may be used for an acre ; and great care ought to be taken to cover the seed well, and to put it deeper into the ground than the seeds of other grasses.