466 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



in a wide range of soil types. To secure large yields and 

 high quality it must be fertile and constant in supply of 

 moisture until the roots have attained a marketable size. 



663. Climate. The turnip thrives best in a cool, moist 

 climate. As only 6 to 8 weeks are required from seed 

 sowing till maturity, it may be grown successfully in the 

 most northern cultivated sections. The leaves are hardy 

 and the roots may be left unprotected in the open ground 

 until there is danger of hard freezing weather. 



664. Varieties. White-fleshed varieties are in most 

 common use although the yellow-fleshed sorts are pre- 

 ferred by some. In shape the roots are oblate, oval, 

 spherical or conical. Formerly the flat varieties were 

 generally grown, but the markets now prefer the more 

 spherical forms. Some of the most popular varieties in 

 cultivation are WHITE MILAN, RED or PURPLE TOP (Strap 

 Leaf), WHITE FLAT DUTCH (Strap Leaf), PURPLE TOP 

 WHITE GLOBE, WHITE EGG and YELLOW GLOBE. 



665. Seed Sowing. For the early crop, sow the seed 

 as soon as the ground can be prepared ; for the late crop, 

 sow in the latter part of July or early in August, depend- 

 ing upon locality. The rows may be 12 to 18 inches 

 apart if a wheel hoe is to be used in cultivating, and 26 

 to 30 if a horse cultivator is to be employed. The tend- 

 dency is to sow the seed too thickly, and thus necessitate 

 a large amount of labor in thinning. If one good seed is 

 dropped to every inch of furrow the stand should be 

 satisfactory; even then thinning will be required. For 

 the early crop the plants should be about 2^2 to 3 inches 

 apart, while for the larger late varieties 4 or 5 inches 

 between plants in the row will not be too much space. 

 The seeds should be planted from y 2 to ^ inches deep. 

 For the late crop the seed is often sown broadcast in 

 well-prepared soil, and then raked in very lightly. This 

 is a favorite plan on general farms, where roots are 

 wanted for stock feeding and also for the home table. 



