THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK x. 



portion of the root-crop. When soils deficient in lime are cropped too 

 frequently with swedes the land becomes " turnip-sick," and cannot be 

 relied upon to grow swedes, but unless the land is in very bad condi- 

 tion the common turnips can be taken, though the}', too, are liable to 

 the attacks which indicate turnip-sickness. These attacks are variously 

 known as Club-root or Anbury, or Finger and toe. Club-root in 

 turnips, cabbages, cauliflowers, rape, and other cruciferous crops is the 

 name given to a malformation of the roots. When pulled, the main 

 root is found to be much dwarfed, whilst the side roots are often 

 swollen into spindle-shaped masses, presenting an appearance (fig 445) 

 to which the name of finger-and-toe is appropriately applied. Lumps 

 or nodules may also be seen upon the root. A crop thus affected 

 ultimately perishes, owing to the decay of the roots. This disorder is 

 associated with the presence of a slimy fungus, Plasmodiophora 



Fig. 445. Turnip affected with " Finger and Toe.' 



Brassiere. The spores of this organism are exceeding minute, and they 

 not only attack and destroy cruciferous crops, but they infest the soil 

 to so great an extent that it is unwise to grow such crops upon the 

 same land again for several years. Liming or chalking the land is 

 the best remedy 



This disorder, by whatever name club-root, finger-and-toe, or 

 anbury it may be called, must not be confused with a malformation of 

 the root, which occasionally arises as the result of some peculiarity in 

 soil, seed, or manure, and is realty a case of "reversion" to the wild 

 type. ,In such instances the growths though distorted are nevertheless 

 healthy, but when the fungus is present, it is only necessary to cut 

 across the root in order to see that it is filled with decaying matter. 

 Nor, again, should the wart-like growths formed upon the root by the 

 small beetle called the turnip-gall weevil be mistaken for the work of 

 the fungus. By cutting across such galls on the roots of turnips and 

 cabbages the legless maggots of the insect may be found. 



The variety of different kinds of the common turnip adds to its use- 



