90 THE SEED-GROWER. 



Ground should be well ploughed and harrowed. In 

 the Northern States sowing for turnip should be made 

 the latter end of summer; ruta baga at least a month 

 earlier, say July 15th to 20th; both in drills two feet 

 apart, thinning to six inches apart. This is the course 

 when the roots are taken up in the autumn and stored 

 in pits or silos over winter. 



In Europe, the practice is to sow in August, and 

 toward the end of October the earth is ploughed be- 

 tween the rows and thrown over the plants; no other 

 protection is deemed necessary; the following spring 

 the growths produce seed stems. Confidence is there 

 reposed in the stock seed; very little roguing being 

 done. This practice of wintering over without taking 

 up the roots is also the method in Washington and 

 other warm parts of the United States. 



In colder sections like New England and the Middle 

 States, the roots are dug up about the middle of No- 

 vember and carefully sorted, only the finest roots, true to 

 variety being selected. These are then carefully topped 

 so as not to cut away the heart or seed germ, and are 

 stored over winter in pits or silos. The latter may be 

 made as long as needed, say 100 feet or more; in width 

 3 feet, in depth 1 foot. The pit is filled to the level of 

 the ground, and a covering is given of 4 inches of straw, 

 over which is then thrown 8 inches of earth, this being 

 ridged up firmly to turn off water. Early in spring 

 these roots are set out in rows three feet apart, fifteen 

 inches in the row; the earth is pressed firmly about the 

 tap root, and the whole well covered, allowing the 

 sprouts to be above the ground. The crop should be 

 well cultivated and kept free from weeds. 



In England, to produce stock seed, the custom is to 

 dig up the mature turnips in the fall, and after care- 



