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PLANTS USEFUL IN AGRICULTURE.
68. BRASSICA Rapa. Rape. —Is sown about the same time asSwedish turnips, and hoed out for winter feed. The seed of this is va-luable for feeding birds, and it is also pressed for oil, which is in de-mand for various purposes. The quantity of seed the same as turnips.
69. BRASSTCANa/msvar. Chaux au Mit.le Tetcs.— This is alargevariety of the Rape, something similar to the Brussels Sprouts, pro-ducing an abundance of green herbage. It was introduced from Francesome time since ; it does not appear to have any merit more than theabove plant, which is equally as productive and hardy : another varietycalled the Chaux de Milan is very similar. It requires the same kindof culture as the Drum-head cabbage.
70. DAUCTJS Carota. Carrots. —These are cultivated as a favouritefood for horses. The best mode of growing carrots is by drilling themat fifteen inches asunder, by which means they can be kept clean withless trouble than in the broad-cast method ; about two pounds willseed an acre; the seed should be well beaten in a baghefore it is drilled,which will make it smooth and fit tu pass through the hopper. Aboutfour pounds will sow au acre broad-cast.
71. PASTINACA sativa. Parsnip.— This is also grown for fodder.The roots yield a good deal in the winter season. There is however adifficulty in taking parsnips out of the ground, which renders it amore inconvenient crop than carrots and many other roots equallygood and attended with less labour. About four pounds of seed willsow an acre.
72. SOLANUM tuberosum. Potatoes. —Of all the plants ever in-troduced into this country this has been the most beneficial, but it mustbe remarked that the same prejudice naturally excited against all newthings, existed for many years against this.
But a few years since gardeners in their writings directed '' thatgreat care should be taken in clearing the ground of this root, for itwas of less account than any other, and if suffered to remain and notdug out clean, was likely to become a most troublesome weed." Thussays Bradley in 1739; and Messrs. London and Wise, who plantedHampton Court Gardens, and who published The Compleai Gardenerin 1699, do not even mention it.
It is now become very common in all parts of the world, and is verygenerally known as the best of all substitutes for bread.
Many varieties of the Potatoe are now cultivated. The most ap-proved are, the Ox Noble; the Champion; the Red-nosed Kidney;the Black Potatoe ; the Apple Potato? ; all these are grown for feed-ing cattle. The mode of cultivation is by planting the roots iu thespring.