NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 6

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS,

The Swedish turnip is the most valuable of oil the varieties of turnip, Sv.eilc though it is not commonly Turnips. grown. It has been much

improved in quality of late years, being now well shaped and clean in the root, whereas it used to be covered with numerous branching roots in addition to the tap root. It contains leas water and more nitrogenous matter than other varieties of the turnip family, and thus, though the yield per acre is not generally so heavy, the amount of dry matter is equal to, or exceeds, that in a heavier crop of the more watery roots. In growing swedes it is necessary to bear in mind one very important rule — namely, that they require ;i long and steady growth. A serious check in the growth is apt lo induce an attack of mildew, or blight, while if forced too quickly the root becomes woody and light. A good, sound twede will gink in water, while one of inferior quality will float like :i cork. Two-year-old seed i? reckoned the best to .sow, because i>e\v seed is liable lo cause the plant to run to £cccl the first year. That is the opinion of British farmers, but it does not carry so much weight here. The hwede has a smoother leaf than the turnip, and the leaf haf a bluish-green shade. It is of more cylindrical shape than turnips, and also has a distinct neck. The fletli is crisp and hard, and of a creamy colour. It is a very hardy plant, and requires extra gooc l cultivation mid plenty of manure. It is sown the first and consumed the 'last, its keeping qualities when the bulb 3 arc sound and well grown being fin (.-class. '"'he flavour is sweeter and more palatable than that of the common turnip, and slock evidently are aware of it, as they will leave any other kind for the swedes. Good crops can be grown with artificial manure only, but a good dressing of farmyard manure is generally considered essential in the old country. The saccharine matter in turnins oi all kinds is one 61 the moot nulri-

"tious" ingredients, -and the swede 'abounds in this. - Messrs Lawes- and - Gilbert determined the average quantity of sugar to be, in white turnips, from 3£ to 4£ per cent. ; in yellow turnips, from 4- to S per" cent. ; and in swedes from 6to 7 per cent.. These" are average analyses, for there is a considerable variation of the chief constituents in all varieties o£ roots, according to soil, manure, and climate. I have said that swedes do hot give such heavy, yields as other turnips, but when it is remembered that, Mr Sutherland's prize crop, a few years ago, was computed by the judges in the root-growing competition to run about 70 tons per acre, there cannot be muoh Kiid against swedes on the "score of yield per acre. There will, no doubt, be a large area sown with turnips, of various kinds this season, and all sowings should be completed by Christmas. Turnip or rape seed should never bo put into a lumpy and , coart'a seed bed";"^ a thorough good tilth is very essential, and if the weather should be dry at time of sowing, the land should be rolled' before- the drill. A, deep, fine tilth, well rolled down, will retain moisture for a long time. Moreover, the drill makes better work, and the seed'is more evenly covered when the surface has been, rolled. The root crops are not likely to fail from lack of moisture, as the November rains thoroughly saturated the sub-soil, and when there is moisture below there is no' fear for the young plants, for the moisture will rise, if, as I have said, the soil is fine-and pressed, together. „ The. moi^ure__ rises by.- 1 capillary" attraction-- from, one particle to' another just. oi3 it rises into a pieqe of bread partly dipped in water. The v?hole country looks reinarlcably^svell now v owing to the showery weather Feeittfiul Crpp recently, ana^feed-is aheadi'roNpectH. of the stock and growing fast. Lust year there was plenty of grass also, and the consequence was that the turnip crop was not required so mtffch as is usually the case. Those who were understocked and wish to gell. their turnips found a poor demand and offers made scaicely covered cost of growiug. It may be the same again, but it is not wia« to neglect the growing ot turnips, for we never, know what may happeil before next spring arrives. There is time enough yet for a long speil of dry weather to parch up tne pastures, and ma»e loot crops more valuable. Moreover, it is good farming to put a proper area under turnips each year, irrespective of any possible or probable causes which may arise to reduce their value when grown. Next to the swedes, the green top --vbeideen turnip is tho hardiest and best ' cropper and best keeper. The Devonshire greystono is a quick-growing .white turnip, which, when sown early,' pr6vidc3 good fodder for lambs in the autumn, but it is the least nourishing of all the commonly grown turnips. What I have said in reference to gcocl preparation of the soil ior swedes equally applies io any kind of and any farmer who knows his business ciocs not> require^ to bo told that in addition to the soil being well prepared it ia necessary lhat it shall be clean also. Sorrel, fat' hen, and other weeds grow fast in cultivated land, and make headway while the turnip plant is struggling through the perils whicn beset it during mii fancy. When the turnip fails to strike- at the lirsC i-owing in dirty" land" it is t>f little 'use to ezijcel success from* a sedond sowing, as the w'cz'ls have by that time" taken pof,oespio"n lo moh a degree that ,replQUgliiug s will. be necessary in order to give turnip Beed another chance. Wool is at such a good price that it will pay lo make good provision for wintering the flock, and no efiort should be spared to secure an ample supply of roots. Oata are making good progress now, "though being kept back in their growth by cold winds- in the spring they are more backward than usual al this time. There is every prospect of a pretty good yield, so that if oats are cheap and sheep are dear we shall know how to use t!ie oats to the best 'advantage. Taking all things into consideration, we have little to complain of, and the outlook at present is as satistaclory as any reasonable man could wish. There lire good markets for wool, mutton, and oats, and all that is required is a sufficient rise in Mark Lane wheat prices to draw oft our surplus supply of last yearV wheat and leave the local market bare and ready for the absorption of our growing crop, which, however well it may yield, cannot produce such a huge surplus tor export on account of the limited area which has been sown.

This heading is realfy a misnomer, according to experience in the past, but,

Union nevertheless, that is no reaAmo us Farmers, son why another attempt

should not be made lo bring about some satisfactory method of combination for mutual benefit. I referred lo the proverbial apathy of farmers in a recent note, and it cannot' be denied that this apathy and indifference are at the root of the many failures that have been "recorded in the past in connection with farmers' unions and leagues. A good many yeara ago a country, rettlera' league was formed lor political purposes, but that has long been defunct:. Then the Farmers' Union was formed, with a most ambilious and comprehensive syllabus, and great things were expected from the movement. That, however, died from neglect in a short time, and now there seems to be a desire to start de novo, and form a frash union. The list of subjects" mentioned as appropriate for discussion includes several which, can only be dealt with from :i political standpoint, that is, legislation will be necessary in order to obtain the concessions mentioned. It is now too late lo combine for political purposes and endavour to elect representatives in Parliament who will consider our wants, but, none the less, a strong combination 'will always have weight, and it is devoutly to be wished thai all our farmers' clubs will take up the matter heartily and not only back up the promoters of the union now under discussion, but also send in live delegates, who ivill enter into the spirit of the movement and carry it on lo a practical issue. We farmers know well enough that no concessions, are ■obtained from the powers that be without agitation; and agitation from a union is more effectual than from a number of separate individuals. If we want .consideration and concessions and proper attention to the wants of the agricultural community, we must know what wo want and combine and stand together in order to have our wants attended .to. _ The most likely method to get proper attention is lo send representatives to Parliament who arc interested in agricultural matters, and who understand what is required. The diversity of political opinion which exists among farmers is thq. great stumbling block lo • obtaining direct leprcsenlation, py which I mean representation of farmers by farmers, or ati any, rule by those who arc in sympathy with, farmers. But because, all farmers do not

"Standard" Turnip Manure.— This manure is specially prepared for Turnipß and other root crops, and as it contains all necessary ingredients for plant life it can be relied upon to give excfllieiit crflna«--NiUMQ **» Bt:»b,

support the same political' party is no reason \rhy tlley should iiot agree to combine in an endeavour, to -obtain-'proper attention to the various abuse's which prevail in connection with the backbone of the country. The eleciion is aow over, and it is too late to lake any action iv the way of supporting candidates favourable to our interests, but it is to be hoped that the Farmers' Union .will be firmly established three years hence, and then some definite and united action may be possible. AGRICOLA.