RUTABAGAS AND TURNIPS 



249 



They endure more cool weather than members of the beet family, 

 and may therefore be planted earlier in the spring and grow later 

 in the fall. It is not uncommon to sow the crop broadcast arid give 

 it no cultivation whatever. During the early growth the largest 

 roots are pulled for sale or use, and this thinning gives more room 

 for the development of other plants. 



When planted in the home garden for table use the seed is 

 often drilled in rows and the plants given some cultivation. Sev- 

 eral plantings may be made during the season, but the turnips are 

 not well suited to hot summer conditions, particularly in the mid- 

 dle and southern states. Plantings in early spring and in late 

 summer or early fall will thrive better than crops started in hot 



FIG. 174. Rutabagas of the Bloodsdale variety, suitable for stock feeding. (Productive 



Feeding.) 



weather. For the turnips about two months should be allowed 

 for the development of the crop arid three months for rutabagas. 

 In producing a crop for feeding to stock, one common practice 

 is to sow the seed in a pasture from which the stock are excluded 

 until the growth is well advanced. Then hogs and sheep may be 

 turned in to harvest the crop. Another plan is to sow rutabaga 

 seed in the spring with red clover in a grain field. After the grain 

 is harvested the rutabagas will make a rapid development and may 

 be harvested in the fall by pulling the largest roots. The remain- 

 der are left in the field as fertilizer or hogs may feed on them 

 for a few days without serious damage to the growing clover. 



