1019. Proper Soil for the Culture of Turnips.—Sandy loams, in good heart, are most favorable to their growth, though they will thrive well on strong loams, if they are not wet; but, on clayey, thin, or wet soils, they are not worth cultivating; for, though a good crop may be raised on such ground, when well prepared and dunged, more damage is done by taking off the turnips in winter, in poaching the soil, than the value of the crop will repay.
1020. Instructions for raising Potatoes to advantage.—The earth should be dug twelve inches deep, if the soil will allow it; after this, a hole should be opened about six inches deep, and horse-dung, or long-litter, should be put therein, about three inches thick; this hole should not be more than twelve inches diameter. Upon this dung or litter, a potato should be planted whole, upon which a little more dung should be shaken, and then the earth must be put thereon. In like manner, the whole plot of ground must be planted, taking care that the potatoes be at least sixteen inches apart. When the young shoots make their appearance, they should have fresh mould drawn round them with a hoe; and if the tender shoots are covered, it will prevent the frost from injuring them: they should again be earthed when the shoots make a second appearance, but not covered, as, in all probability, the season will be less severe.
A plentiful supply of mould should be given them; and the person who performs this business should never tread upon the plant, or the hillock that is raised round it, as the lighter the earth is, the more room the potato will have to expand.
A gentleman obtained from a single root, thus planted, very near forty pounds' weight of large potatoes; and, from almost every other root upon the same plot of ground, from fifteen to twenty pounds' weight; and, except the soil be stony or gravelly, ten pounds, or half a peck, of potatoes, may almost be obtained from each root, by pursuing the foregoing method.
1021. Use of the Dandelion.—This is an excellent salad, and a good green. Where it grows as a weed, cover it early in the spring, with rotten tan, or decayed leaves; it will soon come up.
1022. Preparations for Carrots and other winged Seeds.—Take two bushels of dry loamy earth, finely sifted; to which add one bushel of bran, and a sufficient quantity of carrot seed, cleaned from stalks, and well rubbed between the hands; all which thoroughly mix together, and drill (or sow). The carrot seed will stick to the bran, which, with the earth, will be regularly discharged.