196 AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



the manure and the improvement of the soil for succeeding 

 crops. English farmers are content to grow large fields of 

 turnips, &c., and fatten many head of stock, merely for the ben 

 efit which the succeeding grain crops will receive. 



433. Turnips belong to the botanical family of CABBAGE, 

 (Brassica,) of which the following species are cultivated in the 

 United States. 



(Q&quot;,) Brassica Rapa, Common Turnip. 



(b t ) &quot; Napm, Rape, or Cole. 



(c t ) &quot; Oleracea, Cabbage, 



The true Turnips again are thus divided: 

 Brassica Rapa-, Common Turnip. 



&quot; Campestris Na- 



po-brassicdj Swedish Turnip. 

 (c,) &quot; Napus esculenta, Turnip-rooted Cole. 

 (dj &quot; Oleracea Caulo- 



rapa. Turnip-stemmed Cabbage or 



Kohl-rabi. 



Of the turnips, there are very many sub-varieties originated 

 by cultivation, such as round, depressed, fusiform, white, green, 

 and red, each of which is supposed to possess some peculiar 

 good qualities. We shall, probably, originate in the United 

 States varieties better adapted to our climate than those of Eu 

 rope. The three great divisions at present are, (a,) The Com 

 mon Turnip; (bj) The Hybrid Turnip; and (c,) the Swede, 

 (or Ruta-Baga, a name, but rarely used by English writers.) 



434. The Common Turnip is too well known to need de 

 scription. The Hybrid (b,) has the leaves of the Common 

 Turnip, and the character of Rape and of the Swede, and is 

 supposed to be formed by a cross of these three. It is hardy, 

 nutritious, and less apt to be injured by frost. The Swede (cj IB 

 hard, yellow, containing less moisture, and keeps longer into 

 spring, so that it is the last consumed. 



