The Bulletin. 39 



sparingly in rows IV^ to 2 feet apart. As the plants crowd each other, 

 they are thinned out till they stand 8 to 10 inches apart in the rows. 

 Unless those taken out can be used, the thinning may be completed at 

 one going over, which is usually done when the plants are about 4 to 5 

 inches high. The cultivation, which should be sufficient to keep up a 

 continuous growth, may be done with wheel-hoe or cultivator. The 

 latter is preferable when turnips are grown on a large scale. 



When manure is used for turnips it is advisable to have it well rotted 

 and thoroughly mixed with the soil. Five hundred to 1,000 pounds of 

 fertilizer of about the following analysis will be found beneficial : 



Phosphoric Acid 7 per cent 



:N'itrogen 4 per cent 



Potash 8 per cent 



This also should be mixed with the soil. It would be advisable to use 

 quick-acting fertilizers for the early crop, as a quick, continuous growth 

 is desired. 



Turnips are gathered for market before they have attained full size, 

 Avhen they are still crisp, tender, and sweet. The medium-size turnip 

 is preferable for market purposes. 



Varieties: 



Early White Milan. — Roots medium size, smooth and white. Flesh 

 £ne-grained, tender, and of good quality. Early. 



Extra Early Purple Top Milan. — This is an early, medium-size 

 turnip, reddish purple above ground and white beneath. Flesh is white, 

 tender, and good quality. 



Yellow Globe. — A round, smooth, yellow turnip, of firm flesh and 



:fine quality. 



Seven Top. — Good variety for planting in fall for greens. Not 



grown for the roots. 



WATERMELONS. 



Watermelons give best results on high, warm, well-drained, sandy or 

 sandy loam soil, though good crops are often grown on rather a wide 

 range of soil. Good melons are often grown on land that is considered 

 thin. Low, soggy lands or those that overflow should be avoided. 

 Since, as a rule, only the early crops pay for shipping, warm, sandy 

 soils are most used for commercial melon growing. 



The preparation of the land need not be more than moderately deep, 

 but should be thorough, such as can be given by free use of disc and 

 spike-tooth harrows. Usually the land is laid off with a plow in checks 

 8 or 10 feet apart each way and the "hills" made at the intersections, 

 or sometimes they are planted in rows 10 feet apart and thinned to a 

 single plant 4 feet apart in the row. Continued shallow cultivation 

 should be given until the growth of the vines renders further cultiva- 

 tion impracticable. Cultivate as soon as dry enough after every rain. 



