110 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Turnera—continued. 
o olia (narrow-leaved). J. oblong-lanceolate. (B. M. 
281, under name of T. angustifolia.) 
T. u. cun (wedge-shaped). f., claws of the petals 
brownish. J. obovate-cuneate, coarsely serrated. A. lft. to 3ft. 
a Brazil, 1821. 
A wT. a. (elegant). (fl. sessile, as large as those of the 
Bladder fennia: petals pale yellow or sulphur-coloured, with 
purplish-brown claws. All the year. J. oblong-lanceolate, 
coarsely serrated, cuneate at base, quite entire, pubescent. h. lft. 
to 2ft. Brazil, 1812. Syn. T. trionijlora (B. M. 2106). 
TURNERACEZ. A natural order of glabrous or 
pubescent herbs or shrubs, mostly American, a few being 
African, and one broadly dispersed over Asia, but not 
indigenous. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite, axillary, 
solitary or few, sessile or pedunculate, rarely racemose ; 
calyx tubular, five-cleft, deciduous, the lobes imbricated ; 
petals five, inserted at the throat of the calyx, clawed, 
membranous, twisted, deciduous, naked or with a scale 
at the tip of the claw; stamens five, very rarely hypo- 
gynous; filaments free, flat-subulate; anthers oblong; 
ovary free, one-celled; styles three, filiform; peduncles 
free or connate with the petioles, occasionally jointed, 
aii 
HU 
\ Lr 4 
JE UYTH 
ANY 
wel > SS 
SG Ss 
often bibracteolate. Capsule one-celled. Leaves alter- 
nate, petiolate, simple or pinnatifid, often argutely ser- 
rated, frequently biglandular at base; stipules small or 
wanting. The order embraces three genera—Erblichia, 
Turnera, and Wormskioldia—and about seventy-six 
species. 
TURNIP (Brassica Rapa). A hardy biennial, native 
of Europe (Britain), &c.; cultivated from a remote period, 
for the use of the fleshy roots, which are boiled and 
served as a vegetable in various ways. The tender 
‘growing tops are also gathered in spring, and cooked as 
a green vegetable; and they are sometimes blanched at 
the same season as a substitute for Seakale. 
Cultivation. The Turnip is chiefly an autumn and 
- but early and successional supplies may be procured by 
commencing to sow early in spring, and keeping on at 
intervals until July. In summer, Turnips not unfrequently 
yun to seed without forming roots of a useful size; and 
_ during dry weather they are, if procurable, often stringy, 
and of inferior quality. The destructive Turnip Flea has 
also to be contended against; all through early sammer 
especially, its attacks are commenced on the seedlings so 
winter crop, as it succeeds best in cool, moist weather ;. 
of having 
as they appear above ground. It is of little use 
Turnip—continued. 
attempting to force Turnips too early in spring: they 
should not be sown under glass until the weather is 
favourable for admitting plenty of air. The first supply 
may be obtained by sowing some seed broadcast in a 
frame, during February or early in March. The least 
bottom heat from fermenting material may be allowed, 
but a spent hotbed or cold frame, with from 3in. to 6in, 
of rather fine, light soil in it, will do; an early variety 
should be selected—Early Munich is one of the best. 
The seedlings require thinning out so soon as they are 
large enough to handle. Plenty of air must be allowed, 
to insure a sturdy growth, and when the leaves get strong 
the frame may be removed. The season will by this time 
be advanced and the weather warmer than at the period 
of seed-sowing, Attention to watering is the principal 
point in after-cultivation. A valuable supply may be 
thus obtained in advance of any that could be grown 
entirely in the open air; a two-light frame at least should 
be allowed, as it could scarcely be more profitably utilised. 
By the middle of March, the first sowing may be made.__ 
on a south border, and successional sowings according to 
~ 
Fig. 129, FLOWERING BRANCH OF TURNERA ULMIFOLIA. 
requirements will be necessary until the end of J ae 
early in July, when the seed for the main_ ould 
be put in. In favoured districts, any timé in July will 
do, and sowings may even be made up till the end 
of August with successful results. Turnip seed usually 
grows very freely, and the young plants appear above 
ground in a very short time. Some cultivators sow 
broadcast, but the ground is more readily kept free from 
weeds and the plants thinned out when the plan of 
having drills is adopted: the latter is therefore recom- 
mended. Drills 1ft. apart will suffice; they should be 
drawn with a hoe not more than 2in. deep, and the 
plants may be thinned to about Yin. apart, though this 
distance may vary somewhat according to the strength 
of the variety and the season. During summer a cool 
situation is preferable, and in dry weather it is often 
necessary to keep Turnips watered... If is is not done, 
growth becomes checked, and either the plants run to 
seed or the roots lose their succulent nature and 
come pithy. The main crop may be left in the 
7 d, to be pulled when required, but for the purpose 
‘supply in very severe weather it is advisable 
to lift a portion, cut off their tops—not too closely—and 
store them in sand or soil ready for use. The crops at all 
seasons are much benefited by keeping the soil between 
