35S 



The Profitable Culture of Vegetables* 



retentive staple will be found to give more satisfactory results 

 in warm weather. The difficulty which arises in connection with 

 Turnip growing on light sandy soils in summer is that these are 

 liable to get droughty, and as a consequence the seedlings are 

 often destroyed by the flea beetle, and such plants as pass safely 

 through this ordeal may run to seed before making useful roots. 

 On such soils success may be assured by the addition of plenty 

 of well-decomposed manure, which has the effect of retaining 

 moisture and pushing the growth of the young plants quickly 

 into the rough leaf, when they are comparatively safe from 

 the flea beetle. 



Early Crops. The earliest sowings of Turnips are made on 

 beds of warm manure, leaves, or other fermenting material, 

 from the end of January to the end of February. A bed may be 



made on the surface of 

 the ground and covered 

 with box frames, or in 

 brick pits, or in a trench 

 in the ground and pro- 

 tected by mats or litter. 

 A very gentle warmth 

 at the roots is all that is 

 necessary, as Turnips 

 will not stand hard 

 forcing, and from the 

 time the seedlings show 

 until the roots are ready 

 for pulling the plants 

 must be given plenty of 

 air and daily moderate 

 waterings. The first 

 method is the one fol- 

 lowed in French gardens, where the production of early Turnips 

 is part of the regular routine. In this case, when spare frames 

 are available, beds 15in. thick are made specially, or beds which 

 have already served to produce a crop of radishes and lettuces 

 are turned over and re-made about the end of February, then 

 trodden down well and covered with Sin. of light rich compost, 

 which is* also made firm. The seed may be sown broadcast, 



Copyright, V.A.& Co. 



Half-long White Forcing Turnip. 



