ROOT CROPS 355 



stant supply is desired, as turnips rapidly become hard and 

 woody in warm summer weather. For the fall and winter 

 crop in the North, 



" On the fourteenth day of July, 

 Sow your turnips, wet or dry." 



In many parts of the Northern and Middle states tradition 

 fixes the 25th of July as the proper time for sowing flat 

 turnips for winter use. In the Middle states, turnips 

 are sometimes sown as late as the end of August. 



Or, take advantage of any convenient leisure at about 

 that season to prepare a piece of very mellow ground, and 

 sow the seed thinly and evenly broadcast. In spite of the 

 old rhyme, a gentle shower will then be acceptable. These 

 turnips are pulled after frostj the tops removed, and the 

 roots stored in cellars or pits. For the early crop, Purple - 

 top Strap -leaf, Early White Flat Dutch and Early Purple - 

 top Milan are the favorite varieties. Yellow- fleshed sorts 

 like Golden Ball are very fine for early table use, when 

 well grown, but most eaters prefer white turnips in spring, 

 although they occasionally patronize the yellow varieties in 

 the fall. Yellow Globe is the favorite yellow fall turnip, 

 though some persons grow yellow ruta-bagas and call them 

 turnips. For late crop of white turnips, the same varieties 

 chosen for spring sowing are also desirable. 



RUTA-BAGAS are distinguished from turnips by their 

 smooth, bluish foliage, long root and yellow flesh. They 

 are richer than turnips; but they require the same treat- 

 ment, except that the season of growth is longer. Fall- 

 sown or summer- sown bagas should have a month the start 

 of flat turnips. 



Except the maggot (see Radish), there are no serious 

 insects or diseases peculiar to turnips and bagas. 



CARROTS should be kept on hand in a state of tender im- 

 maturity throughout the season, to be used in soups, salads, 

 boiled dinners, and other savory cookery. With this in 

 view, several small successional sowings should be made of 



