TURNIP 135 



but when the month is out it is likely to prove a waste of time to sow 

 Turnips any more until the turn of the year. 



The Turnip likes a light soil, but does not well endure the occa- 

 sional dryness to which light soils are subject. This fact accounts for 

 many failures of the crop in a hot dry season, for sunshine suits the 

 Turnip, but it must have moisture or suffer deterioration in some way. 

 If, therefore, the soil becomes dry, and there is no prospect of rain 

 to put things in order, the Turnips should have water, not simply 

 to moisten the surface, but to go to the roots, for frequent watering is 

 not good for the crop, as it tends to spoil the beauty of the bulbs, and 

 promotes a rank leaf-growth which is not wanted. An occasional 

 heavy watering in dry weather will also do much towards the repres- 

 sion of the many enemies that beset this useful root the jumpers, the 

 grubs, the weevils, and the rest of the crew will be routed out of their 

 snug hiding-places in the dusty soil when the watering takes place, 

 and the death of many will follow. But so long as the soil is fairly 

 moist at the depth the roots are ranging, there is no need for watering, 

 and the time it would consume may be utilised for other work. 



On the approach of winter a certain portion of the Turnip crop 

 should be lifted and stored. In doing this the tops must be cut off, 

 not too close, but just leaving a slight green neck, and the roots 

 should be rather shortened than removed ; at all events, to cut the 

 roots off close is bad practice, as when so treated the bulbs do not 

 keep well. Any rough storage answers for Turnips, the object being 

 to keep them plump by excluding the atmosphere, and at the same 

 time render them safe against frost. The portion of the crop left in 

 the ground may be lifted as wanted in the same way as Parsnips, but 

 this should be done systematically, so that the ground which is cleared 

 may be dug over and ridged up before winter. Those that remain 

 will be in a piece, and will give a good crop of spring greens, after 

 which they may be made use of as manure by putting them at the 

 bottom of a trench. 



Some of the foes that war against the Turnip crop are alluded to 

 at greater length later on. Happily the gardener has many friends 

 that are insufficiently known to the farmer, not the least important 

 being the starlings, song birds, and occasionally (but not often) the 

 sparrows. Where the cultivation is good and small birds abound, 

 the Turnip crop is pretty safe, and the general routine of culture 

 sketched above will certainly promote, if it does not absolutely 

 secure, its safety. The worst foes of the Turnip in the field are the 

 fly and the caterpillar ; but in the garden, and more especially the 



