Other growing methods advised during this time was to harrow in the turnip seed upon the stubble with the harrows and the crop kept back for the Ewes and Lambs in late Spring.
Other methods of raising a crop of Turneps.
“If the land be intended for fallow, in the open Field counties, they may very well stand on it till April, which will make a supply for sheep at that time of year, when provisions are most scarce of all. A great deal of success of this crop depends upon the season, for if the winter be very severe it often comes to nothing; if mild it seldom fails, and in the other case the loss is trifling.
Another method which has been practised with great success, is to sow the Turnep seed pretty thick among a crop of Hog pease, just when they are ready to cut. No more care need be taken in this case, beside the scattering the seed in proper quantity over the ground among the pea stalks, but this quantity must be as we have said, larger than is commonly allowed, because some will certainly be lost. The reapers are then to be sent in with their hooks, and no particular orders need be given them concerning the new crop. Let them cut and carry off the Pease in the same way, and the natural and necessary treading of the peaples feet will crush the seed of the Turneps into the ground, and press it down a little, which is every way assistant to the growth of his species.
In this manner, when the Pease are all off, and the ground has been a little at rest, the Turneps will shoot up, and they will be in less danger of insects at this decline of the year, than they would be in the wet and warm part of spring; if they appear the same methods may be used to destroy them, and one way or other, the farmer has a fair chance for a good winter crop.
When they are at some little height they will be required to be hoed by hand, for two reasons, the one is to thin them, the other to break the ground among them. The weeds are destroyed in consequence, but this is a lesser consideration, for at this season they are fewer than in spring.
The necessity of thinning the crop is greater in this way of raising them than in any other, because they will rise more irregularly; and when they are very thick in some parts, and other spots are entirely vacant, as will be the case, they should be taken up and transplanted. The earth being trod very much, and not broken up, requires the hoeing also, for otherwise it would be too hard. It answers the purpose of the seeds, because the Pease have made it mellow.
Another very useful way of raising a winter crop of Turneps is upon a piece of ground where there have been beans; but in this case the method is to plow up the land once, and then harrow in the Turnep seed, either after beans, or a crop of any corn where it has grown thick, the ground is so hollow, that once plowing does very well to prepare it for Turneps; and by any of these methods, if the winter prove tolerably mild, there is no doubt of a profitable crop, but otherwise these late sown turneps frequently suffer.”
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Other methods of raising a crop of Turneps.
“If the land be intended for fallow, in the open Field counties, they may very well stand on it till April, which will make a supply for sheep at that time of year, when provisions are most scarce of all. A great deal of success of this crop depends upon the season, for if the winter be very severe it often comes to nothing; if mild it seldom fails, and in the other case the loss is trifling.
Another method which has been practised with great success, is to sow the Turnep seed pretty thick among a crop of Hog pease, just when they are ready to cut. No more care need be taken in this case, beside the scattering the seed in proper quantity over the ground among the pea stalks, but this quantity must be as we have said, larger than is commonly allowed, because some will certainly be lost. The reapers are then to be sent in with their hooks, and no particular orders need be given them concerning the new crop. Let them cut and carry off the Pease in the same way, and the natural and necessary treading of the peaples feet will crush the seed of the Turneps into the ground, and press it down a little, which is every way assistant to the growth of his species.
In this manner, when the Pease are all off, and the ground has been a little at rest, the Turneps will shoot up, and they will be in less danger of insects at this decline of the year, than they would be in the wet and warm part of spring; if they appear the same methods may be used to destroy them, and one way or other, the farmer has a fair chance for a good winter crop.
When they are at some little height they will be required to be hoed by hand, for two reasons, the one is to thin them, the other to break the ground among them. The weeds are destroyed in consequence, but this is a lesser consideration, for at this season they are fewer than in spring.
The necessity of thinning the crop is greater in this way of raising them than in any other, because they will rise more irregularly; and when they are very thick in some parts, and other spots are entirely vacant, as will be the case, they should be taken up and transplanted. The earth being trod very much, and not broken up, requires the hoeing also, for otherwise it would be too hard. It answers the purpose of the seeds, because the Pease have made it mellow.
Another very useful way of raising a winter crop of Turneps is upon a piece of ground where there have been beans; but in this case the method is to plow up the land once, and then harrow in the Turnep seed, either after beans, or a crop of any corn where it has grown thick, the ground is so hollow, that once plowing does very well to prepare it for Turneps; and by any of these methods, if the winter prove tolerably mild, there is no doubt of a profitable crop, but otherwise these late sown turneps frequently suffer.”
© COPYRIGHT rescuingthepast.co.uk 2012
The following advice for raising turnips written in the early 1740s is probably the most sound and trustworthy instructions that came out of the eighteenth century regarding this root crop. In fact, following these instructions would grow you a good crop of organic turnips today.
"We would have our farmer raise his Turneps to equal those of the garden and there is no equal but by a first good choice of the soil. Whatever be the condition of land on which they are sowed in other respects, two qualities it must have, that it be light and warm, these will prevent the destruction of the crop, but we must add the other quality of richness in order to their being well nourished.
There is a nicety in covering the seed which few regard, and errors in which are the cause of half the miscarriages that happen to Turnep crops. This seed requires to be tolerably well covered, and in particular to have the earth pressed close about it. On the contrary, there is no danger of squeezing and pressing the earth too firmly about them; for we have seen very fine crops of this root raised, by sowing Turnep seed in a Barley field just before mowing. In this case it is easy to conceive how the ground must be everywhere squeezed, by the treading and carrying off the corn.; but this, far from hurting the seed, has sent it properly into the ground, and stalks of the barley sheltering it, have done instead of a better covering... The common harrow tears up the ground too much, and buries the seed too deep; the best way therefore is, when it is scattered properly upon the field, to draw a bush harrow (Usually a large Hawthorn branch) over the ground , by way of covering it lightly, and then to go over it with a very heavy roller. There is also another method that may be used for sowing of Turneps, which is, to have a wooden roller stuck full of pegs, then drawing it over the ground the seed is to be scattered in, and a bush harrow is to be drawn over it afterwards, which will sufficiently level the ground.
Pressing the earth about the seeds, though very essential to the good of the growth of this plant, is not particular to it, but is of exellent use in many others. We see something like it practiced on many seeds in gardening, which they tread in first, and then lightly rake the earth over afterwards. A good roller would answer the purpose of this treading, when the seed had been in the same manner scattered over the ground, and it would be easy to have the harrows with short sharp tines, that should answer the purpose of their rakes. This would be a means of bringing the garden method of working, in many instances, into the field, and in none it can be more proper, than when things which are common garden products are concerned.
The great danger of the fly may be in some measure obviated by a proper steeping of the seed before sowing. There is an exellent receipt among farmers for this purpose, the success of which has evidently been so great, that it were idle to think of proposing any alteration in the ingredients. What we have seen in the difference of crops that have been sown with this advantage, and others in the same circumstances, the seed of which were sown without steeping, makes us very desirous that it should be universally known and universally followed. The receipt is this. Mix together equal quantities of Stone, Lime, and wood soot. Have ready a quantity of Urine, sufficient to moisten them into a thin pap. Heat a little of the Urine and put to the rest, that it may be all milk-warm, then mix it by Degrees with the Lime and soot. The Lime will presently slake, and breaking to pieces, the whole will make a smooth mess of a thin consistance, pour this when cold upon the Turnep seed, let it remain in it four and twenty hours, and then sow it in the manner directed. ((((This remedy, although effective by making the young seed leaves taste awful to the fly beetle, if attacked, another crop should be sown as soon as possible.)))) We have observed before, that this danger is only while the Turnep is in its seed leaf, because those insects do not regard it afterwards, the taste of these ingredients will in some degree, hang about the seed leaves, so that they will be more likely to escape when it has been steeped, than when sown without that precaution, but sometimes the seedlings are eaten down by them after this method, and therefore warn the farmer not to trust it entirely, though it give him great and reasonable hopes."
Charlock was the most nuisance weed amongst turnips as it looked very much like turnip seedlings in the young growth stage and instances of the weeders grubbing out whole turnip crops rather than the charlock was common.
"He is therefore first to inform himself thoroughly of the difference between Charlock and Turneps, which consists in the Size, Colour, and divisions of the leaf: and though there be a general resemblance to an unpracticed eye, this is a very sufficient distinction to those who will look narrowly. If he finds his Turnep field over-run with this distructive weed, let him turn in a competent number of sheep, and they will eat off all the Charlock, which will never rise to any height again, and they will leave the Turneps untouched. This might seem a very desperate undertaking to such as had not seen practiced, but there is no arguing against experience, and this is a method that has stood the test of ages. The only caution is, that too many sheep be not turned in: a very moderate number will be sufficient for the purpose, and more might damage the crop which they did not devour.
The Charlock being removed, the distance of the plants is to be considered, and as they generally rise a great deal too thick from this random way of sowing, they are to be reduced in numbers, and brought to this proper distance by the hand hoe. This at the same time clears off the weeds, of whatever kind, that have risen among the Turneps, and they are left by it at a proper distance, and with a clear ground fresh broken for their nourishment. This hoeing is all the Farmer can, in the common method of Husbandry, do for his crop, therefore when this is done he is to wait their growth, as nature brings them to perfection.”
Many farmers pulled turnips starting at one end or corner of the field, clearing to bare ground and it was advised to pull the roots in such a way as to thin the turnips over the whole ground so as to afford the plants a chance to grow to a bigger size, “and the crop shall be in reality not diminished in quantity, but only in numbers”.
If the best roots were chosen and sent to market or sold direct to the town sellers, the rest were used for the cattle.
"The first use of the Turneps is to feed cattle under cover, and for this purpose a proper quantity are daily to be pulled up, and carried home in Carts."
"We would have our farmer raise his Turneps to equal those of the garden and there is no equal but by a first good choice of the soil. Whatever be the condition of land on which they are sowed in other respects, two qualities it must have, that it be light and warm, these will prevent the destruction of the crop, but we must add the other quality of richness in order to their being well nourished.
There is a nicety in covering the seed which few regard, and errors in which are the cause of half the miscarriages that happen to Turnep crops. This seed requires to be tolerably well covered, and in particular to have the earth pressed close about it. On the contrary, there is no danger of squeezing and pressing the earth too firmly about them; for we have seen very fine crops of this root raised, by sowing Turnep seed in a Barley field just before mowing. In this case it is easy to conceive how the ground must be everywhere squeezed, by the treading and carrying off the corn.; but this, far from hurting the seed, has sent it properly into the ground, and stalks of the barley sheltering it, have done instead of a better covering... The common harrow tears up the ground too much, and buries the seed too deep; the best way therefore is, when it is scattered properly upon the field, to draw a bush harrow (Usually a large Hawthorn branch) over the ground , by way of covering it lightly, and then to go over it with a very heavy roller. There is also another method that may be used for sowing of Turneps, which is, to have a wooden roller stuck full of pegs, then drawing it over the ground the seed is to be scattered in, and a bush harrow is to be drawn over it afterwards, which will sufficiently level the ground.
Pressing the earth about the seeds, though very essential to the good of the growth of this plant, is not particular to it, but is of exellent use in many others. We see something like it practiced on many seeds in gardening, which they tread in first, and then lightly rake the earth over afterwards. A good roller would answer the purpose of this treading, when the seed had been in the same manner scattered over the ground, and it would be easy to have the harrows with short sharp tines, that should answer the purpose of their rakes. This would be a means of bringing the garden method of working, in many instances, into the field, and in none it can be more proper, than when things which are common garden products are concerned.
The great danger of the fly may be in some measure obviated by a proper steeping of the seed before sowing. There is an exellent receipt among farmers for this purpose, the success of which has evidently been so great, that it were idle to think of proposing any alteration in the ingredients. What we have seen in the difference of crops that have been sown with this advantage, and others in the same circumstances, the seed of which were sown without steeping, makes us very desirous that it should be universally known and universally followed. The receipt is this. Mix together equal quantities of Stone, Lime, and wood soot. Have ready a quantity of Urine, sufficient to moisten them into a thin pap. Heat a little of the Urine and put to the rest, that it may be all milk-warm, then mix it by Degrees with the Lime and soot. The Lime will presently slake, and breaking to pieces, the whole will make a smooth mess of a thin consistance, pour this when cold upon the Turnep seed, let it remain in it four and twenty hours, and then sow it in the manner directed. ((((This remedy, although effective by making the young seed leaves taste awful to the fly beetle, if attacked, another crop should be sown as soon as possible.)))) We have observed before, that this danger is only while the Turnep is in its seed leaf, because those insects do not regard it afterwards, the taste of these ingredients will in some degree, hang about the seed leaves, so that they will be more likely to escape when it has been steeped, than when sown without that precaution, but sometimes the seedlings are eaten down by them after this method, and therefore warn the farmer not to trust it entirely, though it give him great and reasonable hopes."
Charlock was the most nuisance weed amongst turnips as it looked very much like turnip seedlings in the young growth stage and instances of the weeders grubbing out whole turnip crops rather than the charlock was common.
"He is therefore first to inform himself thoroughly of the difference between Charlock and Turneps, which consists in the Size, Colour, and divisions of the leaf: and though there be a general resemblance to an unpracticed eye, this is a very sufficient distinction to those who will look narrowly. If he finds his Turnep field over-run with this distructive weed, let him turn in a competent number of sheep, and they will eat off all the Charlock, which will never rise to any height again, and they will leave the Turneps untouched. This might seem a very desperate undertaking to such as had not seen practiced, but there is no arguing against experience, and this is a method that has stood the test of ages. The only caution is, that too many sheep be not turned in: a very moderate number will be sufficient for the purpose, and more might damage the crop which they did not devour.
The Charlock being removed, the distance of the plants is to be considered, and as they generally rise a great deal too thick from this random way of sowing, they are to be reduced in numbers, and brought to this proper distance by the hand hoe. This at the same time clears off the weeds, of whatever kind, that have risen among the Turneps, and they are left by it at a proper distance, and with a clear ground fresh broken for their nourishment. This hoeing is all the Farmer can, in the common method of Husbandry, do for his crop, therefore when this is done he is to wait their growth, as nature brings them to perfection.”
Many farmers pulled turnips starting at one end or corner of the field, clearing to bare ground and it was advised to pull the roots in such a way as to thin the turnips over the whole ground so as to afford the plants a chance to grow to a bigger size, “and the crop shall be in reality not diminished in quantity, but only in numbers”.
If the best roots were chosen and sent to market or sold direct to the town sellers, the rest were used for the cattle.
"The first use of the Turneps is to feed cattle under cover, and for this purpose a proper quantity are daily to be pulled up, and carried home in Carts."
Scotch tip carts, being used to haul roots to the heaps, in the field they were grown in.
Cultivation
Sowing and growing Turnips during the first half of the 18C
Sowing and growing Turnips during the first half of the 18C
Farm work - Sowing and growing turnips in the 18th Century
preserving rural bygones
rescuingthepast.co.uk
The turnep drill plough compleat. 1750s
Before the mid-eighteenth century, from a handful of roots grown throughout the country, the one root crop which fires the imagination of pre-mechanized farming is the turnip, grown for the winter feeding of the farm stock. Although not as commonly grown commercially as it should have been, there was varied advice and instruction for raising this valuable root, however, such advice, probably because of the relative commercial newness of this vegetable, was not to be entirely relied upon. A useful crop, the turnip was and still is grown and used for feeding the farm livestock.
Farmers were advised to use gardening methods and grow turnips in the field using the same principles to raise his crop similar to those of the gardener, When turnip seed is broadcast, the roots 'stand' much better growing closely together than they would otherwise in rows, a method that was adopted for the folding of sheep and feeding cattle in the open field, a system used up to the present time.
A poorer soil could be used If turnips were grown in rows because hoeing between the rows kept weeds at bay and airated the soil keeping the young plants in good health but when sown broadcast (as turnip seed is often sown today), a dark mellow earth or a loamy, enriched soil was advised, also, the soil would need nourishing at the tillage stage.
Farmers were advised to use gardening methods and grow turnips in the field using the same principles to raise his crop similar to those of the gardener, When turnip seed is broadcast, the roots 'stand' much better growing closely together than they would otherwise in rows, a method that was adopted for the folding of sheep and feeding cattle in the open field, a system used up to the present time.
A poorer soil could be used If turnips were grown in rows because hoeing between the rows kept weeds at bay and airated the soil keeping the young plants in good health but when sown broadcast (as turnip seed is often sown today), a dark mellow earth or a loamy, enriched soil was advised, also, the soil would need nourishing at the tillage stage.
The turnep seed box & parts. 1750s
Turnep seed drill parts. 1750s
The shepherd has just finished erecting three feet high hazel hurdles. The sheep are folded on a feed of turnips and kale.
Folding sheep under the White Horse, Westbury, Wilts.
From a photograph 1900. (old postcard)
From a photograph 1900. (old postcard)
Harvesting the turnips with a beautifully made scotch cart.
Old photograph.
Advertising post card.
Farmers name on the cart is,
John Venables of Cheshire.
Advertising post card.
Farmers name on the cart is,
John Venables of Cheshire.
“It was thought at a time, a great piece of husbandry, to chop Turneps to pieces before they were given to cattle; but this has been found to have had instead of good, bad consequences, and is now utterly omitted. This tempted the creatures to eat them without chewing, by which means they had not half of their nourishment, and sometimes they were choked with the hurry of swallowing them; chewing is a natural part of the operation, promoting digestion… The proper method on all occasions, is to give them whole, and it is in general much more profitable to pull them in proper quantities, than to turn the cattle into the field. They eat up more entirely what are given them, so that there is no waste from their leaving, or from their trampling; and they fatten much sooner when this is kept up, than when they ramble about.
The only inconvenience attending fattening of cattle with Turneps is, that it will give a flavour to their flesh; but this is easily remedied, by feeding them at least ten days or a fortnight with hay, in which time the effect of the former food, as to flavour, will be entirely gone off…
If the former be in fear of the fly for his crop of Turneps, he may use some precaution beside what we have directed, in the steeping of the seed. Wood ashes are found very destructive of this little insect; it is therefore a good method to scatter a parcel of these thinly over the crop, just after the plants are above ground; it will often preserve them; and is so for from doing harm that it will always promote the growth.
After the fly, the greatest enemy to the crop of Turneps is the caterpillar. it is a particular kind that seizes upon the Turnep leaf, and this only devours it while young. It is a small black kind, that will be found very plainly when it is in sufficient number to do mischief, for it can do this no otherwise than by the multitude, like the fly. When these are seen the weather is to be consulted, for in a dry season they may be destroyed at once by proper rolling, but in wet weather that instrument must not be brought upon the ground. Therefore, if the condition of the land and of the air, permit, let a roller be drawn carefully over the whole ground, very early in a morning. The caterpillars at that time be out on their food and their bodies being tender, the roller pressing heavily, and the dry earth making some resistance, they will be utterly destroyed. This pressing of the roller, far from injuring the Turneps, will make them root the better.
The naked snail, or as it is commonly called, the slug, is also very troublesome on these occasions. If it be at a proper time of growth, the roller used in the same manner, will destroy that also; but if the Turneps are of such a growth that the roller cannot be taken on, then the method is to turn in some ducks, they are fond of these creatures; they will do no harm to the Turneps; and their dung will help the ground.
These are the general methods of raising the Turnep, and of preserving it in its growth. But beside these are some other methods, approved by experience, and worth the farmers notice.”
The only inconvenience attending fattening of cattle with Turneps is, that it will give a flavour to their flesh; but this is easily remedied, by feeding them at least ten days or a fortnight with hay, in which time the effect of the former food, as to flavour, will be entirely gone off…
If the former be in fear of the fly for his crop of Turneps, he may use some precaution beside what we have directed, in the steeping of the seed. Wood ashes are found very destructive of this little insect; it is therefore a good method to scatter a parcel of these thinly over the crop, just after the plants are above ground; it will often preserve them; and is so for from doing harm that it will always promote the growth.
After the fly, the greatest enemy to the crop of Turneps is the caterpillar. it is a particular kind that seizes upon the Turnep leaf, and this only devours it while young. It is a small black kind, that will be found very plainly when it is in sufficient number to do mischief, for it can do this no otherwise than by the multitude, like the fly. When these are seen the weather is to be consulted, for in a dry season they may be destroyed at once by proper rolling, but in wet weather that instrument must not be brought upon the ground. Therefore, if the condition of the land and of the air, permit, let a roller be drawn carefully over the whole ground, very early in a morning. The caterpillars at that time be out on their food and their bodies being tender, the roller pressing heavily, and the dry earth making some resistance, they will be utterly destroyed. This pressing of the roller, far from injuring the Turneps, will make them root the better.
The naked snail, or as it is commonly called, the slug, is also very troublesome on these occasions. If it be at a proper time of growth, the roller used in the same manner, will destroy that also; but if the Turneps are of such a growth that the roller cannot be taken on, then the method is to turn in some ducks, they are fond of these creatures; they will do no harm to the Turneps; and their dung will help the ground.
These are the general methods of raising the Turnep, and of preserving it in its growth. But beside these are some other methods, approved by experience, and worth the farmers notice.”
Roots stored in the barn
Root chopper