Varieties of Roots. 157 



pared in the spring. Lime slaked until it is in a very fine powder may be 

 applied at the rate of 1,000 pounds of quicklime (unslaked) per acre, and 

 harrowed in, and in addition 400 to 600 pounds of acid phosphate and 50 

 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre. These should be well incorporated 

 with the surface soil before sowing. Too much emphasis cannot be 

 placed on the necessity of having the land in good tilth, and the seed-bed 

 as fine as possible. 



Seeding of turnips: 



Large, plump seed produces stronger plants than small seed. From 

 two and one-half to five pounds, average four pounds of seed per acre, 

 are usually sown in the case of rutabagas and hybrids ; and from two to 

 four pounds, average three pounds per acre, in the case of common tur- 

 nips, when the rows are 27 to 30 inches apart. Less would do if we could 

 be sure that the flea-beetles would not kill many of the plants. The 

 young plants come up about four days after sowing. The seed should 

 be sown at a depth of one-half to three-fourths inch, usually the former, 

 but in a dry season the latter may be the better. Seed can readily be 

 sown too deep. The resuults obtained during the first two years show 

 that sowing on May 11 was over 100 per cent, better than sowing on 

 June 12, in the case of rutabagas and turnips. The average yields are 

 given under " Yield," (p. 129). In the cases of the rutabagas and Garten 

 Pioneer hybrid turnips the early sowing stimulated the production of long 

 necks, which was a waste of energy and disadvantageous, as all necks 

 were removed before weighing. 



Thinning turnips: 



The stand of a root-crop has great influence on the yield. To secure 

 more plants .per acre it has been urged to make the rows closer. This, 

 however, eliminates the use of the horse-power machinery, necessitating 

 hand labor and rendering the crop unprofitable. In the case of rutabagas, 

 from 26,000 to 30,000 plants must be grown per acre and of common 

 turnips more. Twenty-seven inch rows are better than 24 inch ; 30 inch 

 rows are easier to cultivate than 27 inch. Some of the distances advised 

 are indicated below. 



Rutabagas, 

 No. of plants per acre. 



23 inch rows, plants 14 inches asunder 19,480 



24 inch rows, plants 12 inches asunder 21 ,780 



27 inch rows, plants 10 inches asunder 23 , 232 



30 inch rows, plants 8 inches asunder 26,136 



30 inch rows, plants 7 J inches asunder 27 , 87S 



