376 CRUCIFER^ 



8. Swede Turnips {Brassica Napo-brassica D.C. and Brassica 

 Rutabaga L.). 



These plants are grown for the same purpose as the turnip. 

 They differ from the latter, however, in the following points : — 



(i) The first foliage-leaves of the seedling swede are rough 

 like those of the turnip, but glaucous in colour, never grass-green. 

 The leaves developed later are smooth and glaucous. 



(2) The swede has a distinct short stem or ^ neck'' on the 

 upper part of the thickened ' root ' with 

 well-marked leaf-scars upon it (Fig. 120). 



(3) The ' roots ' are rarely so perfect in 

 form and outline as those of the turnip; 

 there are fewer distinct varieties of swedes. 



(4) The 'flesh' of one form is white (B. 

 Napo-Brassica D.C), that of ^. Rutabaga L. 

 being yellow or reddish orange ; it is firmer, 

 more solid, and more nutritious than that of 

 the turnip. 



The ' roots ' keep much better during winter, 

 Fig. I20.— Swede turnip and are easily stored for use in spring. 



root. Observe the elon- •' r o 



gated .'neck,' and com- (5) The flowcrs of the whitc-flcshed swede 

 pare wit ig. 119. ^^^ large and bright canary yellow ; those of 



the yellow-fleshed variety are buff yellow or pale orange colour. 



(6) The seeds are usually larger and of darker colour than 

 those of the turnip. 



Climate and Soil. — For perfect development, both common 

 turnips and swede turnips require a somewhat damp, dull 

 climate, the north of England producing much finer crops than 

 the south. \\^here the air is dry the yield of ' roots ' is small. 



The best soils for their growth are open loams, the common 

 turnips being grown on the lighter kinds, swedes upon the stiffer 

 loams. Neither of them can be grown very satisfactorily upon 

 stiff wet clays, nor on dry sands or gravels. 



Sowing. — Turnips are drilled in rows on ridges where the 



rainfall is considerable, and on the flat in warm, dry climates. 



The distance between rows varies from 18 to 25 in. for white and yellow 

 turnips, and 20 to 27 in. for swedes. 



