VEGETABLES TURNIP. 219 



Beet, and can best be produced early on light sandy or 

 gravelly soils, highly enriched with manure. 



For late crops, sowings may be made, for Ruta Bagas, 

 from May to September, in the different sections of the 

 country ; here, the finest roots are obtained by sowing 

 about first Aveek in June. For white and yellow varieties, 

 as they come quicker to maturity, sowing should be de- 

 layed four or five weeks later. Here, we sow from the 

 middle of July to the middle of August. 



Turnips, Avhether for early or late crops, should always 

 be sown in drills, about 14 or 18 inches apart. In large 

 quantities, they are sown by the machine, when one pound 

 of seed will be enough for an acre. In the Northern 

 States, it is necessary to take them up on the approach of 

 severe weather, when they are best preserved during win- 

 ter by being pitted, as recommended for other roots. The 

 late crops of Turnips are by no means so profitable as the 

 early, rarely realizing to the grower more than $75 per 

 acre; but like most other late crops of the garden or 

 farm, they can be grown with less manure, are less perish- 

 able if not immediately sold, and are consequently grown 

 by the farmer on his less valuable but more extensive 

 grounds. 



The following are the leading varieties grown. 



Purple Top Strap-leaved. The variety mainly grown 

 for early crop, attaining, when well grown, a diameter of 

 5 to 6 inches, but is first gathered for market use at about 

 half that size. It is a firm, solid variety, free from spon- 

 giness, of very handsome appearance; the lower two- 

 thirds of the root is white, while the upper portion has a 

 well defined line of purple. 



