548 



ROOT CROPS 



ROOT CROPS 



In regard to the distribution of the dry matter 

 in turnips, Wood and Berry, of Cambridge Uni- 

 versity (England), report as follows : 



"The bulbs [shown in Fig. 778] of green-top 

 yellow turnips from the same iield, were each 

 weighed and then cut into horizontal slices. The 

 topand bottom pieces, 1 and 2, were not further 

 divided. The other slices were subdivided ; 3 rep- 

 resents a ring aroiind the second slice and 4 the 

 central part of the same slice. Similarly, 5 rep- 

 resents the outside ring of the third slice, 6 a ring 

 inside that, and 7 the inside part of the slice. In 

 this way each turnip was divided into twelve dif- 

 ferent sections from top to tail and from rind to 

 core. Three other bulbs, representing two differ- 

 ent varieties, were divided similarly but in a sim- 

 pler manner. These gave results in general agree- 

 ment with what is shown in Fig. 778. In all these 

 samples only the dry matter was determined. The 

 results may be summarized as follows : 



"(1) The upper half of a turnip contains a higher 

 perceTitage of dry matter than the lower half. This 

 is in direct opposition to the common opinion that 

 the under half is the richer. 



"(2) The outside part next the rind is richer in 

 dry matter than the inner part. As we proceed 

 from the outside toward the center the dry matter 

 falls. This is true, no matter in what direction we 

 proceed, but the difference from crown to center 

 is greater than the difference found in any other 

 direction. 



"This analysis shows that a sample taken from a 

 turnip by boring can represent only approximately 

 the composition of the turnip. In order accurately 

 to obtain its composition, the whole turnip would 

 require to be used, or at any rate a wedge passing 

 through the center from top to tail would require 

 to be taken from it." 



Type distinctions. 



Some of the differences between common turnips 

 and rutabagas are brought out in the following 

 table : 



During the second year both turnips and ruta- 

 bagas send up a strong stem which bears many 

 branches. The leaves produced at this time are 

 generally bluish green and smooth in both cases. 

 The flowers of the rutabaga type are much like 

 those of the cabbage, being large and creamy yel- 

 low, with long claws ; those of the turnip type are 

 more like the flowers of the mustards, being small 

 and sulfur-yellow, and short-clawed. Thus far, no 

 one has found any marked distinguishing features 

 of the seeds of these types, although it is now pos- 

 sible to detect seeds of charlock or wild mustard in 

 a sample of turnip or cabbage seed and to distin- 

 guish between seeds of turnip and cabbage. For 

 data on this, consult Bulletin No. 29, United States 

 Department of Agriculture, Division of Botany. 



As mentioned elsewhere (page 540), a hybrid- 

 turnip, or cross between a rutabaga and a common 

 turnip, may have the characters of either parent 

 blended in any number of ways. 



Botanical relations. 



In several of the Brassicas, selection of plants 

 for economic purposes has been so long continued 

 that the descendants of an original plant are now 

 so diverse that they may be regarded as distinct 

 species. The original plant from which the ruta- 

 baga has been derived is held by some to have been 

 the result of a cross between the wild cabbage 

 and the wild turnip, but such has not yet been 

 proved. This plant {Brassiea eampestris), however, 

 has given rise to several others, among which may 

 be mentioned the colza or rape (Brassiea eampestris, 

 var. oleifera), the best oil plant of Europe, annual 

 in duration and developed for its seeds (see under 

 Oil-bearing plants); and Brasnea eampestris, var. 

 rutabaga, DC, which is biennial in duration and has 

 been developed for its roots for stock-feeding. The 

 same diversification is seen in the case of the wild 

 turnip (Brassiea Rapa). Brassiea Rapa, var. oleifera, 

 or the thin-rooted turnip, is an annual grown for 

 its seeds to furnish oil, while Brassiea Rapa, var. de- 

 pressa is grown for its thickened root and is biennial 



First foliage leaves 



Color of leaves 



Later leaves produced the first year 



Neck 



Position of leaves 



Period of growth 



Flowers 



Roots 



Flesh 



Keeping quality of "roots" . . . 



Dry-matter content 



Average weight of " roots "... 

 Size of seed .... 



Turnip 



Rough. 

 Grass green. 



Covered with rough, harsh hairs. 



Absent. 



Like a rosette in the center of the 



upper surface of the " root." 

 Usually 60 to 120 days. 

 Small, usually yellow. 



Usually smooth on the surface and in 



outline. 

 Soft, usually white to yellow, more 



often white. 

 Generally poor ; should be consumed 



early in the season. 

 5 to 10 per cent. 

 3 to 40 ounces. 

 Small ; 2 to 3 pounds usually sown per 



acre. 



Kutabaga 



Rough. 



Bluish green, or covered with a bluish 



white bloom. 

 Smooth. 

 Present. 

 On the neck, which usually shows 



well-defined leaf-scars. 

 Usually 90 to 180 days. 

 Larger, buff yellow to pale orange in 



color. 

 Usually rough on the surface and less 



perfect in form and outline. 

 Firmer, white, yellow or orange, more 



often yellow. 

 Generally good; can be kept until 



spring. 

 7 to 12 per cent. 

 16 to 50 ounces. 

 Larger and darker in color ; 4 to 5 



pounds usually sown per acre. 



