Varieties of Roots. 



153 



secured natural crosses by planting Golden Tankard mangels and Klein- 

 wanzelebener sugar-beets close together. Varieties are frequently planted 

 close together in order that they will cross-fertilize. Darwin states that 

 the plant is capable of self-fertilization, but evidently regarded it as being 

 generally cross-fertilized. His recorded experiments, however, were on 

 a very small scale, but his results showed that the cross-fertilized plants 

 produced the more vigorous seed. 



2. Turnips. 



The turnip, like the mangel, consists of a thickened stem and root, 

 the relative proportions of which vary in different varieties, and even 

 between individuals of the same variety, owing to variations in the plant, 

 the soil and the method of cultivation. 



It is mostly a biennial plant grown largely for its thickened tuber, 

 which is formed during the first year of growth and used as food for 

 stock from late summer on. The prevalent types are the common turnip, 

 hybrid turnip and rutabaga. 



The common turnip (Brassica Rapa) and the Rutabaga, Swedish 

 turnip or Swede turnip (Brassica campestris or Brassica rutabaga) are 

 thought by some to be of distinct primary origin. At the present time 

 the turnip and rutabaga may be distinguished by the following charac- 

 teristics : 



First foliage leaves 

 Color of leaves 



Later leaves produced dur- 

 ing the first year 



Neck 



Position of leaves 



Period of growth , 

 Flowers 



TURNIP. 



"Roots' 



rough 

 grass green 



covered with rough, harsh 

 hairs 



absent, 



like a rosette in the center 

 of the upper surface of 

 the "root" 



usually 60 to 90 days 



small, usually yellow 



usually smooth on the sur- 

 face and in outline 



RUTABAGA. 



rough 



bluish-green, or covered 

 with a bluish - white 

 bloom 



smooth 



present 



on the neck which usually 

 shows well defined, leaf- 

 scars 



usually 90 to 180 days 



larger, buff yellow to pale 

 orange 



usually rough on the sur- 

 face and less perfect in 

 form and outline 



