34 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



subject to the attacks of the fly, though damping overhead 

 in the evening, with soot or soot and lime dusted over 

 the plants when in a damp state, will check its ravages. 

 This root does not like drought, so that summer crops 

 may occupy a heavier soil than earlier ones. For 

 summer roots, a space of twelve inches between the 

 rows should be given, and the seedlings thinned to half 

 that distance, and kept as clean as possible during growth. 

 I have previously referred to the importance of early 

 thinning, as in summer the root bulbs quickly, and 

 once this has commenced it is not advisable to loosen 

 the roots. 



I now come to the autumn sowing. This should be 

 done from the early part of August to the end of that 

 month, though in cold or late districts late July sowings 

 may be necessary. Those late sown roots will not be 

 large, but they will be large enough for all purposes. 

 Far better get a solid small, sweet root than a large, 

 soft and worthless one. If ground is available, sow 

 on a well-drained quarter, as there will be no need 

 to harvest this crop till late in the year. Then 

 one need merely select the large roots, and place them 

 under soil to be just frost-proof, leaving the smaller 

 ones to take their chance. These take no harm if 

 the soil is hoed over them each side of the row. 

 The roots left out have their use as a green vege- 

 table in the spring, as they produce the tender green 

 tops so much liked at that season. The yellow- 

 fleshed kinds and the Chirk Castle are specially good 

 for the latter purpose. In storing roots for winter, 

 select a store just free from frost — indeed, I have 

 placed the roots in heaps in their growing quarters, 

 and well covered them with soil to ward away frost. 

 Turnips should never be allowed to remain on the soil if 

 at all diseased, but cleared away, and only the sound 

 roots stored. The land should not be re-cropped with 



