ROOT CROPS. 51 1 



TURNIPS AND SWEDES* 



Turnips of first-class quality for sheep and for domestic use and market 

 can be produced abundantly in many parts of this State. In the coastal 

 and tableland districts the crop can be grown with comparative ease; and 

 in many of the wheat districts where the rainfall does not fall below an 

 annual average of 20 inches, turnips are well worthy of attention if sheep 

 are kept in conjunction with cereal production; .and a quick-maturing 

 fodder crop can be thus profitably utilised in rotation. 



The turnip crop may be either left in the ground to be eaten out by the 

 sheep during winter, when greenstuff is scarce, or it may be harvested, 

 trimmed, and stored in pits made by stacking the roots on straw in a long, 

 narrow, ridged heap, ami then covering with a thick coating of straw and 

 soil. 



Almost all soils are suitable for the production of turnips, the govern- 

 ing factor being more the supply of moisture than the richness of the 

 land. Hence it is desirable to employ a soil with a fair percentage of 

 sand, if possible, the physical condition then favouring the retention of 

 moisture. 



Preparation of the Land. 



The turnip is a shallow rooter, and every effort must be made in the 

 cultivation of the soil and in the application of manures to retain the 

 plant-food near the surface where it can be readily drawn upon by th« 

 crop . 



The land should be ploughed deeply, if possible, a couple of months at 

 least before sowing, and then lightly reploughed just previous to sowing. 

 The soil should then be brought to a very fine tilth by means of the harrows 

 and cultivator. This is essential to ensure the proper germination of 

 the fine seed of the turnip. On very loose soils the hand-sower at times 

 shows an inclination to run too deep, and in order to lighten the work 

 it is advisable to use the roller to compact the seed-bed. In such cases 

 it is necessary after sowing to break up the rolled surface between the 

 rows by giving a light scuffling. 



Time to Sow. 



In most parts of the State it will be found that February and March 

 sowings will produce the best results, but on the tablelands earlier sow- 

 ings are not out of place. Swedes do not do well in New South Wales 

 when sown early in the summer, the crop being one that is native to cool 

 conditions, and hot weather being, therefore, unfavourable to proper 

 development. The attacks of aphis in summer time also contribute to 

 failure, while the heavy moisture requirements of the crop further demand 

 that it shall be grown at a time when the rainfall is most regular. 

 Autumn sowing avoids the hot weather and the attacks of aphis, and 

 allows the development ol the roots at a time when the rainfall is 

 usually more regular, and the evaporation very much less. Moreover, 

 the February-March sowings of Swedes bring the crop to maturity at a 

 time when graziers find it of greatest value. There is almost always need 

 for succulent feed in the winter and early spring, especially for ewes 

 approaching lambing, or with lambs at foot, and Swedes sown as suggested 

 will mature at the time required. 



* A. J. Pinn, Inspector of Agriculture. 



