TURNIPS 361 



this manner several times during the season, which cultivation should be completed before 

 the leaves attain a very large growth. A hand-hoe will be required for use between the plants. 

 Shortly after the plants are out of the ground, they should receive a sprinkling of lime-dust 

 early in the morning, when wet with dew, to prevent the attacks of the turnip-fly. This 

 application, repeated a few times with three or four days intervening, will prove an efficient 

 safeguard. After putting out the rough leaf, they are safe from the attack of the fly. Many 

 farmers give the soil a top-dressing of plaster and wood-ashes immediately after sowing the 

 seed. 



THE BOSTON HORSE-HOE. 



The above cut represents the Boston horse-hoe, which is extensively used in the cultiva 

 tion of corn and all kinds of roots. The rear plows or moulds are reversible, so as to throw 

 the earth to or from the plants, as desired. It can also be contracted to fifteen inches in 

 width, or expanded to thirty-six inches, and is gauged to work any depth from three to 

 seven inches. 



Cultivation of Spring Turnips. For an early crop, the seed should be sown as 

 soon in the spring as the ground will admit of preparation, and should be well -pulverized and 

 enriched, as previously recommended. 



The Early White Dutch, or Strap-leaved varieties, are very good for this purpose. They 

 should be sown in drills, and kept perfectly free from weeds, the culture given to be the same 

 as that for the fall crop. 



Mr. B. K. Bliss advises that, when the roots begin to enlarge, the earth should be brushed 

 away about them to the depth of a half -inch or more, and a light dressing of wood-ashes 

 given them. He says this is the surest mode of obtaining fair and smooth spring turnips in 

 old gardens, where they are almost certain to grow wormy, if the earth is allowed to remain 

 in contact with the roots. It is important to get them started very early, so that they may 

 have time to grow of sufficient size before the very hot weather, when they will soon become 

 tough and strong. 



They may be started much earlier by sowing in a hot-bed, or cold-frame, and trans 

 planting in a wet day, when they have attained to five or six leaves. They should have the 

 earth pressed close about the roots in setting out, and be watered well for a few days after. 

 A fine crop of spring turnips may be raised by the ordinary method on fresh land, or land 

 that has not been subjected to cultivation for several years. 



Cultivation of Ruta-Bagas, or Swedish Turnips. Heavy soils are best adapted 

 to this crop, and the land should be rather dry and rich. It frequently follows corn or wheat 

 in rotation, but roots of the best quality are obtained from fresh soils, being less liable to 

 worms or insect enemies. Very good crops are obtained from fi eshly-turned sod. The 

 quality of fertilizing material to be applied will depend upon the nature of the soil, but they 



