104 ESCULENT ROOTS. 



tender, if grown in cool weather, but liable to be fibrous 

 and strong-flavored when grown during the summer months. 

 The variety is early, and must be classed as a garden 

 rather than as a field turnip. 



Pomeranian Bulb globular, remarkably smooth and regu- 

 lar ; the neck is small, and the skin white, 

 smooth, and glossy ; the flesh is white, close-grained, tender, 

 and sweet ; the leaves are large, and of a dark green color, 

 with paler or whitish nerves. Half early. 



When in perfection, the bulbs measure three and a half or 

 four inches in diameter, about the same in depth, and weigh 

 from fourteen to eighteen ounces. If sown early in good 

 soil, and allowed the full season for development, the roots 

 sometimes attain a weight of eight or ten pounds. It is 

 generally cultivated as a field turnip, but is also sown as a 

 garden variety ; the roots being of good quality for the 

 table, if pulled when about half grown. 



Preston, or An early sort, somewhat resembling the Yel- 

 Liverpool 

 Yellow. Law. low Malta : the bulbs attain a larger size, the 



foliage is stronger, and the basin, or depression, about the 

 tap-root less deeply sunk. 



Purple-Top Bulb round, flattened, nearly one-half grow- 



JPl&v* 



RED-TOP FLAT, ing above ground ; neck and tap-root small ; 

 skin reddish-purple where exposed to light and air, and 

 white below the surface of the soil ; flesh very white, close- 

 grained while young, and of a sugary but often bitter taste. 

 During winter it usually becomes dry and spongy. Average 

 specimens measure two and a half inches in depth, four or 

 five inches in diameter, and weigh from sixteen to twenty 

 ounces. 



This old and well-known variety, at one period, was the 



