CONTENTS.

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PART I.
HOW TO GROW GOOD ROOTS.
CHAPTERPAGE
I.On the Origin of Root Crops[1]
II.On the Origin of Sorts of Roots[9]
III.On Trueness of Sorts in Roots[13]
IV.On Degenerate Roots[18]
V.Effects of Growing Seed from Degenerate Roots[23]
VI.On the Adulteration of Seed, more particularly of Turnips[29]
VII.On the Art and Mystery of Turnip-seed Adulteration[37]
VIII.General Conclusions[49]
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PART II.
HOW TO GROW GOOD GRASSES.
IX.On the Nature of Meadows and Pastures[51]
X.On the Species of Meadow Grasses[56]
XI.On Meadow Plants other than Grasses[73]
XII.On the Weeds of Pastures[78]
XIII.On the Irrigated Meadow[87]
XIV.On the Laying Down of Permanent Pastures[92]
XV.On the Management of Permanent Pastures[98]
XVI.On the Management of Lawns[102]
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PART III.
HOW TO GROW GOOD CLOVERS.
XVII.On the Nature and Properties of the Clover Family of Plants[109]
XVIII.On the Farm Species of Clovers[113]
XIX.On the Varieties of Red Clovers[121]
XX.On the Clover Allies[125]
XXI.On Clover Sickness[137]
XXII.On the Weeds of Clovers[148]
XXIII.On the Parasites of Clovers[156]
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PART IV.
HOW TO GROW GOOD CORN.
XXIV.Nature of Corn[161]
XXV.Wheat: its Origin and Acclimatization[163]
XXVI.The Wild Oat as the Origin of the Cultivated Varieties[168]
XXVII.On the supposed Origin of Barley and Rye[176]
XXVIII.Epiphytical Parasites (Vegetable Blights) of Corn Crops[180]
XXIX.Insects (Animal Blights) affecting Corn Crops[192]
XXX.Science in the Cultivation of Corn[204]
XXXI.On Harvesting Corn[213]
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PART V.
HOW TO GROW GOOD FENCES.
XXXII.On the Nature of Fences[217]
XXXIII.On the Plants for “Live” Fences[220]
XXXIV.On the Hearing and Planting of Hedges[227]
XXXV.Weeds of Hedge-row Fences[234]
XXXVI.On Hedge-row Timber[239]
XXXVII.On the Vermin of Fences[246]
XXXVIII.On the Management of Hedge-row Fences[254]
XXXIX.Covenants with regard to Fences, &c.[259]
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PART VI.
HOW TO GROW GOOD TIMBER.
XL.On the Value of Timber for Ornament and Profit[265]
XLI.On the Kinds of Timber best adapted for different Situations[274]
XLII.On the British Oak[278]
XLIII.On the Chestnut and Walnut[291]
XLIV.On the Elm[296]
XLV.On the Ash, Beech, and other White-wooded Trees[302]
XLVI.On Soft-wooded Forest Trees[313]
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PART VII.
HOW TO GROW GOOD ORCHARDS.
XLVII.On the Apple and Pear as Orchard Fruits[319]
XLVIII.On the Production and Choice of Fruit Trees[328]
XLIX.On the Gathering and Storing of Fruit[338]
L.On Cider-making and Management[345]
LI.On the Uses and Economy of Cider and Perry[351]
Postscript[357]

THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
OF
ROOT CULTIVATION.

CHAPTER I.

ON THE ORIGIN OF ROOT CROPS.

Few people who have studied the matter attentively but have arrived at the conclusion that those plants which we cultivate for their roots were not naturally endowed with the root portion of their structure either of the size or form which would now be considered as essential for a perfect crop plant. Thus the parsnip, carrot, turnip, beet, &c., as we find them in nature, have nowhere the large, fleshy, smooth appearance which belongs to their cultivated forms; and hence all the varieties of these that we meet with in cultivation must be considered as derivatives from original wild forms, obtained by cultivative processes; that is, collecting their seed, planting it in a prepared bed, stimulating the growth of the plants with manures, thinning, regulating, weeding, and such other acts as constitute farming or gardening, as the case may be.