TURNIP. 



181 



superphosphate, of lime or guano, all rich in phosphoric 

 acid, seems to supply everything this crop requires. 

 Manured with these, it is soon heyond the reach of in- 

 sects and casualities. A mixture of the two latter with 

 the sulphate of ammonia, known as improved superphos- 

 phate of lime, is probably the best of all manures for this 

 crop. 



Culture. — The turnip likes a rich sandy soil. If raised 

 on ground manured by cow-penning, the crop rarely fails, 

 as the urine deposited in the soil affords the phosphates 

 so necessary for this crop, and in such places it is far less 

 infested with insects. Soil fresh from the woods also suits 

 them. The seed from the north is three or four weeks 

 earlier than that raised here, and should be chosen for the 

 early crop ; for the main crop our own seed is good enough 

 if carefully raised. 



Sow early turnips in February, in drills one foot apart, 

 in ground well dug and thoroughly manured- Draw the 

 drills one inch deep. Keep the soil free from weeds. As 

 soon as the plants get a little strong, thin out to two 

 inches, and finally to six inches in the row. If the ground 

 is not kept light and well worked, and the plants properly 

 thinned, it is a mere waste of time and seed. The early 

 white dutch from northern seed is the kind to be pre- 

 ferred. They do much better in drills than broadcast. 



For fall turnips, sow the early white dutch, red top and 

 yellow dutch any time in August and September, broadcast 

 or better in drills, as directed above. If broadcast, thin 

 them to about twelve inches apart or more. If sown just 

 before a rain on the surface, the rain will bring them up 

 at once. Soot, wood, ashes, and unslacked lime are all 

 useful to promote growth and drive away insects. The 

 red-top is an excellent variety for a general fall crop, and 

 may be sown in October even with success. 



