THE RUTA-BAGA. 



47 



Varieties. The varieties are as follow : 

 Bulb of medium size, ovoid, smooth, and Ashoroft. 

 symmetrical ; neck very short, or wanting. 

 Above ground, the skin is purple ; below the surface, 

 yellow. Flesh yellow; solid, fine-grained, and of excellent 

 flavor. It forms its bulb quickly and regularly ; keeps in 

 fresh and sound condition until May or June ; and well 

 deserves cultivation, either for agricultural purposes or for 

 the table. 



An old and long-cultivated sort, Commo^^Purple-top , 

 from which, in connection with the 

 Green-top, have originated most of 

 the more recent and improved yellow- 

 fleshed varieties. Form regularly 

 egg-shaped, smooth, but usually send- 

 ing out a few small, straggling roots 

 at its base, near the tap-root ; neck 

 short ; size rather large, usually 

 measuring six or seven inches in 

 depth, and four or five inches in its 

 largest diameter ; skin purple above 

 ground, below the surface, yellow ; 

 flesh yellow, of close, firm texture, 

 and of good quality. It is very 

 hardy ; forms its bulb promptly and 

 uniformly ; and in rich, deep soils, 



yields abundantly. For thin and light soils, some of the 

 other varieties should be selected. 



Green-top 

 Yellow. 



In form and foliage, this variety resembles 

 the Common Purple-top, but usually attains a 

 larger size when grown in similar situations. Skin, above 

 the surface of the soil, green ; below ground, yellow. The 

 flesh is solid, sweet, and well-flavored, but inferior to that 

 of the Purple-top. It keeps well, is of fair quality for the 



