TURNIP. 215 



flower stalks, or go only to the swelling of the root 

 and leave the operation of seed-bearing to another 

 year. There is room for much speculation as to a 

 procedure apparently so sportive and arbitrary; 

 but, which is more important, the fact is certain, 

 that in every case of too early sowing, as in Feb- 

 ruary or the beginning of March, however well the 

 crop may appear for a time, there will be no useful 

 produce at all. Late crops will shoot in consequence 

 of standing too long after having formed their bulbs; 

 but these will shoot the first thing they do a cir- 

 cumstance not easily accounted for, but its being 

 known is enough to direct the sower. 



To have turnips early then, the rule is to pro- 

 mote a rapid growth. Let the ground be well pul- 

 verised by water digging and ridging, dry, and full 

 of rich and well decayed manure. Sow about the 

 beginning of April, in drills of the least depth and 

 one foot apart. Drilling is the best mode for all 

 crops of this kind, whether late or early, in garden 

 or field. The early Dutch is the best to begin with ; 

 the stone for the next crop, and the yellow bullock 

 or the late Dutch yellow for a winter crop. For 

 an autumn crop, when it grows to a good size, the 

 Malta turnip, remarkable for its beautiful orange 

 shape and colour and thin skin, is much to be re- 

 commended. The slug and some fly are trouble- 

 some; but sow thick that there may be enough for 

 all; and make frequent use of the hoe, which both 

 annoys the enemy and delights the young plants. 

 Successive sowings may be made throughout the 



