90 THE SEED-GROWER. 
Ground should be well ploughed and harrowed. In 
the Northern States sowing for turnip should be made 
the latter end of summer; ruta baga at least a month 
earlier, say July 15th to 20th; both in drills two feet 
apart, thinning to six inches apart. This is the course 
when the roots are taken up in the autumn and stored 
in pits or silos over winter. 
In Europe, the practice is to sow in August, and 
toward the end of October the earth is ploughed be- 
tween the rows and thrown over the plants; no other 
protection is deemed necessary; the following spring 
the growths produce seed stems. Confidence is there 
reposed in the stock seed; very little roguing being 
done. This practice of wintering over without taking 
up the roots is also the method in Washington and 
other warm parts of the United States. 
In colder sections like New England and the Middle 
States, the roots are dug up about the middle of No- 
vember and carefully sorted, only the finest roots, true to 
variety being selected. These are then carefully topped 
so as not to cut away the heart or seed germ, and are 
stored over winter in pits or silos. The latter may be 
made as long as needed, say 100 feet or more; in width 
3 feet, in depth 1 foot. The pit is filled to the level of 
the ground, and a covering is given of 4 inches of straw, 
over which is then thrown 8 inches of earth, this being 
ridged up firmly to turn off water. Early in spring 
these roots are set out in rows three feet apart,: fifteen 
inches in the row; the earth is pressed firmly about the 
tap root, and the whole well covered, allowing the 
sprouts to be above the ground. The crop should be 
well cultivated and kept free from weeds. 
In England, to produce stock seed, the custom is to 
dig up the mature turnips in the fall, and after care- 
