362 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



TURNIP.— RAP A. 



Natural order, Siliquosa. A genus of the 

 Tetradynamia Siliquosa class. 



The Greeks called this vegetable ToyyvXn, 

 Gongyle, from the roundness of its root. 



The native country and the origin of the 

 English name of this vegetable are unknown. 

 Some authors affirm it to be an indigenous 

 root of France, while others rank it among 

 the native bulbs of England ; and as turnips 

 are found in a wild state in both countries, it 

 may be considered an aboriginal of both king- 

 doms. We have no plant either native or 

 exotic, that exhibits a more striking instance 

 of the benefits of cultivation than the turnip; 

 for in its wild state it is of little value either 

 to man or beast ; but under the management 

 of the husbandman, it not only affords nou- 

 rishment for the human species, but becomes 

 a most advantageous crop to the farmer, by 

 furnishing his cattle with winter food. 



To this country turnips are among the 



