242 



CRUCIFER^E. LXXXIII. BRASSICA. 



Swedish Turnip. This root is extensively cultivated in fields 

 for cattle, on account of its large size and hardy nature ; it is 

 also occasionally raised in gardens for the table to use in young 

 growth. The cultivation of this root is the same as that for 

 common turnip both in agriculture and horticulture, which see. 



Wild or Field Navew and Swedish Turnip. Britain. Fl.June, 

 July. PI. 2 to 3 feet. 



3 B. RAPA (Lin. spec. 931.) radical leaves lyrate, destitute 

 of glaucous bloom, green, covered with bristly hairs, middle 

 cauline ones cut, upper ones quite entire, smooth. $ . H. 

 Native throughout Europe in cultivated fields and their borders. 

 Smith, eng. bot. 2176. Mart. fl. rust. t. 49 and 50. B. asperi- 

 folia var. 7, Lam. diet. 1. p. 746. Sinapis tuberosa, Poir. diet. 

 4. p. 346. Br. tuberosa, Sal. prod. 272. Sinapis rapa, Brot. fl. 

 lus. 1. p. 586. Long. Turnep. Pet. herb. brit. t. 45. f. 8. 



Rave Navet (Fr.) Sleckriibe (Germ.) Navone (Ital.) Turnip 

 (Engl.) 



A. depressa (D. C. syst. 2. p. 590.) root tumid under the 

 neck, globose depressed, ending abruptly in a slender tail, f . 

 H. Cultivated. Navet ronde or Rave plate. Rabioule Rave, 

 Grosse Rave (Fr.) Round Turnip (Eng.) Mor. oxon. sect. 3. 

 t. 2. f. 1. Blackw. herb. t. 231. 



* dlba (D. C. 1. c.) root white on the outside, or purplish at 

 the neck. White Turnip. 



" * Jtavescens (D. C. 1. c.) root yellowish both inside and out- 

 side. Yellow Turnip. 



* nigricans (D. C. 1. c.) root blackish on the outside. 

 Black Turnip. This is a very doubtful plant. 



* * * * punicea (D. C. 1. c.) root with a scarlet or red skin. 

 Red Turnip. 



***** viridis (D. C. 1. c.) root green. Green Turnip. 

 ****** prcBcox (D. C. 1. c.) Early Dutch Turnip. 



B. oblonga (D. C. 1. c.) root oblong, gradually tapering to 

 a point. Math. comm. 330. f. 1. Lob. icon. t. 197. f. 2. &c. 

 Oblong, Tankard, or Decanter Turnip. 



C. oleifera (D. C. 1. c.) root slender. B. napella, Vill. 

 Math. comm. 330. f. 2. Lob. icon. 298. f. 1. Oil-bearing 

 Turnip. Cultivated in Dauphiny, where it is called Navette, for 

 the sake of its seed, from which an oil is obtained. It is less pro- 

 ductive than the common Rape and Colza, but it is nevertheless 

 useful as it grows in soil unfavourable to every other oleagi- 

 nous plant. The seeds are sown after harvest, and ripen in the 

 June following. See B. ndpus oleifera for the culture of the plant. 



Turnip. Fl. April, July. Britain. PI. 2 to 4 feet. 



The Turnip is a biennial plant, growing in a wild state in 

 some parts of England, but better known as an inhabitant of 

 the gardens or the farm ; the root leaves are large, of a deep 

 green colour, very rough jagged, and gashed ; in the second 

 season it sends up a flower-stalk furnished with stem-clasping 

 leaves, which are smooth. 



Use. The use of the root, boiled and mashed as a dish, in 

 broths, soups, and stews, or entire, is known all over Europe. 

 The top shoots, from such as have stood the winter, are gathered 

 whilst tender and dressed as spring-greens or spinach, under 

 the name of Turnip-tops. 



The following varieties are in general cultivation. 



$. 1 Round White Turnips. Brdssica rapa. A. depressa 

 dlba, D. C. I. c. 



1 Early white Dutch. 



2 Early stone. 



3 Common round white. 



4 Large round white. 



5 Green topped, large round white, skin of the crown green. 

 C Red topped, large white. 



7 Small round French, petit Berlin (Fr.) Teltaw (Ger.) 



8 Large Scotch. 



9 White globe. 



2. Round Yellow Turnips. Brdtsica rapa * * flavescens, 

 D. C. I. c. 



1 Yellow Dutch. 



2 Aberdeen yellow. 



3 Maltese golden, an excellent and beautiful root. 



4 Large yellow field. 



5 Scarisbrook or Preston yellow. 



6 Mouse-tail or six-week yellow. 



$ 3. Black Turnip. Brdssica rapa. A. depressa * * * ni- 

 gricans, D. C. I. c. 



1 Black Russian. This turnip appears to be lost. 



4. Red Turnip. Brdssica rapa depressa 



punicea, 



D. C. I. c. 



1 Large round red. 



2 Red six-week or stone. 



5. Green Turnip. Brdssica rapa depressa * * * * viridis, 

 D. C. I. c. 



1 Green turnip. 



6. Oblong Tu/nip. Brdssica rapa, B. oblonga, D. C. I. c. 



1 Tankard or Decanter Turnip, large oblong, white, red, and 

 green. 



7. Oil-bearing Turnip. Brdssica rapa, C. oleifera, D. 

 C. I. c. 



1 Navette of Dauphiny. 



Estimate of sorts. " The first three sorts are the fittest for 

 early, first succession and main summer crops for the table. 

 The early white Dutch is proper, both for the most early and 

 first succession crops, as is also the early stone. The common 

 round white is highly eligible for the main crop ; and the large 

 round white stands nearly on a par with that, and, if not sown 

 to come in with it, should at least succeed it, as a late summer 

 and autumn crop. In large grounds portions of the large white- 

 green-topped, and the large white-red-topped, may be sown for 

 autumn and winter, but the surest plant for winter consump- 

 tion is the yellow Dutch ; although constituted to stand the 

 intense frost unhurt, it has a fine flavour, and is very nutritive. 

 Small portions of any of the other sorts may be cultivated in 

 secondary crops for variety, or to answer a particular demand." 



Time of sowing. " This root can be obtained most part of 

 the year by sowing every month in spring and summer. Make 

 the first sowing in the last week of February or first week in 

 March, on a slight hot-bed ; by this means the plants will be 

 more likely to bulb, than shew a disposition to run to seed, and 

 will be an acceptable addition to spring vegetables. For the 

 first early full crop sow about the middle or latter end of March 

 in an open situation, and where the ground is light. For the 

 second crop to succeed those sown last month, sow about the 

 middle or end of April, either in drills an inch deep or broad- 

 cast thinly. They may be sown between crops of Asparagus or 

 Sea-kale, provided the soil be light ; the early Dutch and stone 

 are best for this and the preceding sowings. For the third crop 

 sow in May, and by the latter end of July they will be suffi- 

 ciently large for use. Sow in a light soil in warm situations. 

 The fourth and principal crop should be sown in June, about the 

 middle or end of the month, for autumn and winter use, and con- 

 siderable benefit will be derived in sowing in showery or rainy 

 weather, or to retard the sowing if a prospect of such weather 

 coming on, in all the sowings. Particular care should be taken 

 in sowing the seed equally, and immediately afterwards tread it 

 down and rake it evenly. The fifth crop should be sown in July 

 in an open situation. This time may be considered a very favour- 



