366 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



serve the moisture, and each subsequent cultivation shallower, in 

 order not to destroy the roots, which will fill the soil as soon as the 

 plants reach maturity. The crop in good seasons should begin to 

 ripen in August, and picking will continue from that time until the 

 last of September. 



Cost, Yield, and Value of Crop. The cost of production per acre 

 is much less for fruit for canning than in the case of early tomatoes, 

 the chief difference being in the production of the plants. The sev- 

 eral items may be classified as follows : 



Cost of growing an acre of tomatoes for canning: 



Plants $ 2.00 



Manures and fertilizers 8.00 



Preparation of land, setting plants and cultivation . . 8.00 

 Picking and carting 10.00 



Total . . ; $28.00 



The yield, as in the case of the early tomatoes, varies widely, 

 ranging from 5 to as high as 20 tons per acre, even 30 tons per acre 

 having been reported in exceptional cases, although the average for 

 a series of years on average land will probably be under 8 tons. 

 Where all conditions are carefully observed, 20-ton yields are fre- 

 quently obtained, and at the prices received at the cannery, ranging 

 from $5 to $7.50 per ton, according to the locality, the crop is a 

 fairly good one and the net profits are quite as large as for other field 

 crops. 



TURNIPS. 



A great variety of turnips is grown throughout temperate cli- 

 mates, some of which being coarse in texture are used as food for 

 farm animals while other varieties are raised as table vegetables. 

 There is considerable variation in the color, flavor, and composition 

 of the turnip, the yellow-fleshed sorts as a group being commonly dis- 

 tinguished from the white by the name "Swedes" or "ruta-bagas." 

 In the summer the early white varieties are usually preferred in spite 

 of the fact that they are more watery, while in winter the yellow tur- 

 nips are more commonly used. 



The turnip requires a rich soil, and may be grown either as an 

 early or a late crop. For an early crop, sow the seeds in drills 12 to 

 18 inches apart as early in the spring as the condition of the soil will 

 permit. Two pounds of seed are required to plant an acre. After 

 the plants appear, thin to about 3 inches. The roots will be ready 

 for use before hot weather. For late turnips the seeds are usually 

 sown broadcast on land from which some early crop has been 

 removed, generally during July or August, but later in the South. 

 Turnips are quite hardy and the roots need not be gathered until 

 after several frosts. Turnips may be stored in a cellar or buried in a 

 pit outside. Before storing, the tops should be removed. (F. B. 255, 

 295; U. Id. E. S. 10; Mich. E. S. 20.) 



VEGETABLE MARROW. 



The so-called vegetable marrows are a valuable product and 

 closely allied to the pumpkin, both as to species and habit of growth, 



