THE CABBAGE FAMILY 83 



July, and another in August, will provide a sufficiency for 

 winter and spring use. 



The variety for early and successional use is undoubtedly 

 the well-known " Six- weeks " type of Turnip Early Snowball, 

 Early White, Early Green-top, Early Milan, Early Munich, 

 etc. which will provide small, well-shaped, crisp and sweet 

 roots of mild flavour and excellent cooking qualities. These 

 varieties, be it remembered, must be grown quickly, and not 

 retarded in any way, to secure satisfactory results. Orange 

 Jelly, Golden Ball, and other yellow-fleshed kinds are the most 

 useful for midsummer sowings ; whilst Chirk Castle, Green-top 

 Stone, and Red-top Stone are best for later sowing. Those 

 gardeners possessing a deep soil should try the tap-rooted 

 varieties of Turnip, which are both novel and excellent ; Jersey 

 Navet and Long White Horn are the two best of this kind. 



Points to remember concerning Turnip culture are : (i) A 

 moist, friable seed-bed, with drills containing burnt rubbish, 

 ashes, soot, guano, bone-meal, or superphosphate a light 

 sprinkling of one of the last three will be sufficient ; (2) a shady 

 spot in summer, and open, rich ground in winter ; (3) quick 

 growth, aided by cultivation with the hoe ; and (4) severe 

 thinning out of seedlings. Superphosphate is the very best 

 artificial manure, and light dustings of this may be given occa- 

 sionally with good results. 



Turnip " tops " are the sprouts from old roots left in the 

 ground, which start into growth in early spring, and the young 

 tops the thinnings of seed-beds may be used for the same 

 purpose ; besides which the shoots may be blanched in damp 

 heat, and eaten as a substitute for Asparagus. 



The Turnip-flea is probably the worst pest that troubles 

 this vegetable, and applications of lime or soot may be given 

 to prevent its attacks ; and if all weeds of the Cabbage Family 

 (such as Charlock) are carefully eliminated from the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Turnips, much good will accrue, for they are 

 usually the objects of attack by the same insect pests that prey 

 upon the Turnips, and their removal constitutes a safeguard. 



SWEDISH TURNIPS. These vegetables are really Turnip- 

 rooted Cabbages, and differ considerably from the true Turnip 

 the latter deriving its origin from the Rape. " Swedes," as 

 they are termed, are of much better flavour than the Turnip 

 proper. Those usually grown in gardens possess yellow flesh, 

 which becomes marrow-like and of sweet flavour when boiled. 



