TURNIP CULTIVATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 July 1927, Page 12

TURNIP CULTIVATION.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l see in the “Star” that the farmers of the Grey Valley Branch had a meeting at Totara Flat, and some of them were saying that theii swede turnips have been doing badly, and they think the manure is at fault, but wrong cultivation is the cause oi the trouble. Very often old pasture is broken up for turnips, and is ploughed far too deep and badly packed together. half turned, and pushed over, and when working it down the disc and other harrows never get to the bottom of the furrow and leave it hollow and false below. Any green stuff that is there foments and becomes noxious to the plant when its root reaches it. There it is checked, and in trying to recover, it sends out other roots'. It is then that the trouble begins. The land should be ploughed no more than four inches deep, less if the surface is even, and turned upside down flat on the bottom. Set the coulters over enough to allow the plough to pass along without lipping up the land side. See that the hind wheel is not carrying the mould boards off the bottom of the furrow, and she will put it over flat or nearly so. After it has a few weeks it will go down with the harrow and become packed and firm and fit to receive the seed, along with a little manure. It will strike and thrive and send its root down into the firm soil without getting a check and with reasonable surroundings will grow into a healthy, sound crop. . , The vegetable world and the animal world are the same. Each wants a little cuddling and nursing when ycung and tender until it gets strong, then it leaves the swaddling to fend for itself. The turnip does not live on the manure. —I am, etc., J.v. South Beach.