318 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



of common turnips, while in Georgia the last sowing for 

 greens is made the first of November. 



The varieties of the Ruta Baga and the Sweet German 

 are the best when planted for late winter use. These are 

 sown at New York the last half of June, or early in July ; 

 in Georgia, from the 1st to 20th of August. Sow in 

 very rich, fresh-prepared soil. Let the drills be two feet 

 apart, and thin the plants by degrees until twelve or fif- 

 teen inches in the row. As soon as the plants appear, 

 loosen the earth about them. It requires a richer soil 

 than the other varieties. Fill any vacancies in the row 

 by transplanting; these plants will make nearly as 

 large roots as the others. Keep the soil light and mellow 

 by the use of the hoe. Large crops can be tended with 

 the plow and cultivator to great advantage. In good 

 soil the yield is immense. The crop may be drawn as 

 needed. Some should be taken before they begin to grow 

 up to seed and stored in a cool place for late keeping. 



The Turnip Flea Beetle, HaUica nemorum. This 

 is a small, hard-shelled insect, of a smooth, shining, 

 brassy, or greenish-black color, about an eighth of an 

 inch in length. There are two yellow stripes down the 

 wing cases. The hinder legs are formed for leaping. It 

 attacks the turnip, and other plants of the same family, 

 both in its perfect and larva states. When the plants 

 have attained some size the injury to the crop is slight, 

 but they generally take the young plants while in the seed 

 leaf, and destroy the crop entirely in a few hours, whether 

 it be a small bed, or a large field. 



The best remedies are preventive, such as to roll 

 the surface smoothly, so that the insects may find 

 no hiding places in the soil, to sow the seed in drills, 

 and in a fine, rich soil, and apply superphosphate of lime 

 upon the seed in the drills, to apply plenty of seed, and 

 thin out the plants when in the rough lea Any thing 



