Vol. XVIII, Second Series. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y., JUNE, 1857. 



No. 6. 



^^X 



CULTIVATION OF EUTA BAGAS AND TURNIPS. 



CoL«!v (Brasska campestris) is found apparently 

 wild in Lapland, Spain, the Crimea, and other parts 

 ^-r-n of Europe. Unlike the cab- 



bage, (B. oleracea.) it does 

 not appear to be a maratime 

 plant. In its natural state it 

 has a slender root, and an up- 

 right, smooth, branching stem, 

 not much exceeding two feet 

 ' in height. The ruta baga, or 

 Swedish turnip, is supposed by 

 De Candolle to be a variety 

 of B. campestris, analogous 

 to Kohl rabi among cabbages, 

 but with the root swollen in- 

 stead of the stem. It was 

 introduced from Sweden into 

 England about the end of the 

 last century, and has always 

 preserved its distinctive char- 

 acteristics, except when cross- 

 ed by the common turnip. In 

 its original pure condition, it 

 is a flattish, globular root, with a very fine tail, a 

 narrow neck, and a hard, deep yellow flesh, capable 

 of resisting a much greater de- 

 gree of cold than the common 

 turnip. 



\ There are at the present time 

 eleven varieties of ruta bagas 

 commonly cultivated in Great 

 Britain. We here present en- 

 gravings of three of the best 

 of them. The Common Purple- 

 top Swede, (fig. 1,) is one of the 

 oldest varieties. It is very solid 

 in texture, hardy, and not apt 

 to run to seed. It grows deep 

 in the ground, and requires a 

 black or loamy soil, of con- 

 Biderable depth. Skirving^s Im- 

 proved Purple-top Swede, (fig. 

 2,) was originated by Mr. Wil- 

 liam Skirving, of Liverpool. 

 It is a very popular variety in 

 England, and has been exten- 

 sively introduced into this coun- 

 try. It differs from the former 

 in the more oblong shape of the bulb, having a 

 longer neck, and standing more out of the ground. 



It is also more liable to run to seed in the fall, — a 

 very great drawback in this country. It also con- 

 tains, according to an analysis made by the writer at 

 Rothamstead, less dry matter than any other variety 

 of ruta bagas we are acquainted with. In fact, fif- 

 teen tons of the common ruta baga contained as 

 much nutritious matter as twenty tons of this im- 

 proved variety. On the other hand, it is a very free 

 grower, comes early to maturity, and keeps well 

 when stored. It is a good variety to sow on thin 

 soils and on hard clays, because of the slight hold it 

 requires of the ground. Laing's Improved Purple' 



Fio. 3. 



top Swede (fig. 3) differs, according to Lawsow, 

 "from all hitherto known varieties of Swedish tur- 

 nips, in having entire cabbage-like leaves, which, by 

 their horizontal growth, form a thick covering to the 

 soil, thereby materially checking the vigor of aa- 

 tumnal weeds." In point of shape, hardiness and 

 quality, it is superior to all other varieties. It growa 

 late in the autumn, and is not suited to a climate 

 where winter sets in early. It has little or no ten- 

 dency to run to sec d in the fall, and even in the spring; 

 when set out for seed, it is a fortnight later in com- 

 mencing this function than any other variety of rata 

 baga. It requires good land, in high condition, and , 



