90 VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



White turnips can be grown at almost any time of the year, except in 

 midsummer, though in vegetable gardens where water is available there is no 

 need to avoid even that short period. The sowings of these varieties, however, 

 should only be sufficient to cover the immediate requirements of the season, 

 especially in hot weather, as they readily run to seed. 



In the coastal and tableland districts 1 to 2 Ib. of seed per acre is generally 

 sown in drills about 2 feet 6 inches apart, and 3 Ib. to 4 Ib. broadcast. In 

 the drier districts a smaller quantity of seed, say 1J Ib. drilled per acre, 

 would be ample. 



The results of experiments with fertilisers for Swede turnips go to show 

 that a supply of soluble phosphoric acid is very essential to the crop, owing, 

 not so much to the quantity taken from the soil as to the peculiar inability 

 it appears to have, in comparison with many other crops, of utilising the 

 supplies naturally existing in the soil. Superphosphate, applied at the 

 rate of cwt. to 1 cwt. per acre, supplies a readily available form of 

 phosphoric acid, and the crop responds to its application with a largely 

 increased yield. It has a marked effect upon the young plants, inducing a 

 vigorous, healthy growth from the very start; indeed, no crop is more readily 

 benefited by the application of this useful fertiliser. 



As soon as the young plants are about 1 to 2 inches in height, it is advisable 

 to thin them out ; for a field crop the plants should be left 6 to 8 inches 

 apart in the drills. The thinning out is best done by hand or with a sharp 

 hoe. The soil between the drills must be kept well loosened. 



The recommended varieties are : 



Turnips. Swedes. 



White Stone, Purple Top, 



White Nepaul, Skirving's Purple Top, 



Red-top Stone, Laing's Garden Swedes. 



Early White Milan, 

 Orange Jelly. 



Diseases and Pests. 



Black rot (page 93) ; club-root (page 97) ; downy mildew of cabbage 

 (page 99) ; white rust (page 109). 



Aphis (page 110); cabbage grub or cabbage moth (page 115): cutworm 

 (page 114): eelworm (page 118). 



VEGETABLE MARROW. 



See Pumpkin (page 73). 



WATER-MELON! 



See Melon (page 59). 



