82 VEGECULTURE 



BLACK ROT OF CABBAGE (Pseudomonas campestris). This 

 disease is of bacterial origin, causing the plant to rot and form 

 a pulpy, foetid-smelling mass. It attacks Cabbages, Cauli- 

 flowers, Brussels Sprouts, Turnips, and other members of the 

 Cabbage Family. The lower leaves are affected first, and is 

 confined to the veins, whence the disease passes into the leaf 

 stalk, thence into the stem and into the stalks of other leaves, 

 and in a short time every leaf is infected, which become dark 

 brown or black, and the whole plant collapses. Affected plants 

 should be removed and burned, and must not be thrown on 

 the rubbish heap, otherwise the disease may be transferred to 

 the land again. Seed may be disinfected before sowing by 

 soaking it for a quarter of an hour in a solution of one part of 

 corrosive sublimate in 1,000 parts of water, or in a solution of 

 formalin, one ounce in about two gallons of water. 



TURNIPS (Brassica napus). The Turnip needs no descrip- 

 tion. It has been in cultivation from a very early period, and 

 there are numerous forms, shapes, and colours to be found 

 amongst its varieties, and sorts suitable for sowing at all portions 

 of the year are to be obtained. Only good ground, well-manured 

 and prepared, will grow Turnips to perfection tender, sweet, 

 and of good shape and size ; and a good variety chosen from 

 the class likely to prove amenable to the soil available is another 

 source of successful cropping. At the same time, a soil too 

 rich in decayed vegetable matter or fresh manure will tend to 

 the production of coarse, badly-flavoured roots. The ideal soil is 

 a fairly rich, friable, sandy loam. Stiff, cold, retentive soils 

 are most difficult to deal with, and if a fine, rich, friable surface 

 is not created for the seed-bed, the results are certain to be 

 poor. Given a fair start, and a favourable growing season, 

 Turnips will often give a good account of themselves on 

 indifferent soils. A genial site for a row of Turnips in the 

 summer months is between two rows of tall Peas, Climbing 

 French Beans, Broad Beans, or other vegetables that provide 

 shade ; such a place will conserve moisture and protection from 

 hot sunshine so necessary to the Turnip. 



Turnips are really best treated as catch-crops to be sown 

 and grown during the interval separating one main crop from 

 another ; and several successive batches may be secured during 

 the year. If seeds are sown early say February or March, 

 and again in April and May, or June a supply will be obtained 

 all the summer and early autumn ; whilst a sowing made in 



