THE TURNIP. 55 



much paler, or nearly white ; and the flesh, to a great 

 extent, loses the fine, dry, and sugary qualities which it 

 possesses when grown in warm climates. 



THE TURNIP. 



English Turnip. Brassica rapa. 



The common Turnip is a hardy biennial, and the roots or 

 bulbs of all the varieties attain their full size during the 

 first year. The flowers are produced in May and June of 

 the second year, and the seeds ripen in July. The latter 

 are small, round, black, or reddish-brown, and are similar, 

 in size, form, and color, in the different varieties : ten 

 thousand are contained in an ounce, and they retain their 

 vitality from five to seven years. 



Propagation and Culture. All the sorts are propagated 

 by seeds, which should be sown where the plants are to 

 remain. Sowings for early use may be made the last of 

 April, or beginning of May ; but as the bulbs are seldom 

 produced in perfection in the early part of the season, or 

 under the influence of extreme heat, the sowing should be 

 confined to a limited space in the garden. The seeds may 

 be sown broadcast or in drills : if sown in drills, they should 

 be made fourteen inches apart, and half an inch in depth. 

 The young plants should be thinned to five or six inches 

 asunder. For a succession, a few seeds may be sown, at 

 intervals of a fortnight, until the last week in July ; from 

 which time, until the 10th of August, the principal sowing 

 is usually made for the winter's supply. In the Middle 

 States and the warmer portion of New England, if the sea- 

 son is favorable, a good crop will be obtained from seed 

 sown as late as the last week in August. 



Harvesting. Turnips for the table may be drawn di- 



