The Turnips 



177 



as are radishes. Only now and then grown in this country, as 

 a curiosity. 



TURNIP AND RUTABAGA 

 The turnips of all Mnds are cool-season crops of quich 

 germination and rapid growth. Tliey are partial-season 

 plants, usually following early crops. They grow long 

 after tomatoes, corn and many other crops are Tcilled hy 

 frost. Seeds are usually sown where the plants are to 

 stand. The soil should he loose and fertile. 



For garden use, particularly for the early season, turnips 

 are sown in drills 10 to 18 inches apart. In drills, 1 ounce of 

 seed may be used for every 200 to 300 feet, or 1 pound to the 

 acre; broadcast, 2 to 3 pounds to the acre. The plants should 

 be thinned to stand at first 3 inches apart ; and then, as some 

 of the young roots are removed for eating, until the main crop 

 allows a foot of space for the development of each full-sized 

 tuber. The late or fall crop is often sown broadcast, particu- 

 larly if it is to be used for stock-feeding. Better results are 

 secured, however, when the plants are grown in rows. For 

 general field purposes, the rows are placed 18 to 30 inches 

 apart, to allow of wheel-hoe or even horse-hoe tillage. Seeds 

 are sown % to % inch deep. Yields run from 600 to 1000 

 bushels to the acre. 



The diseases of these plants are black-rot and club-root ; in 

 insects the turnip aphis may be troublesome: see the discus- 

 sions for Cabbage, page 71. Flea-beetles often infest turnips 

 and rutabagas : see the account of this insect on page 435. 



The true or "flat" 

 turnips usually have 

 flattened or very oblate 



roots, soft white flesh, °' small-pinnate radish (X V.). 



and green rough leaves. They do not require the full 

 season in which to mature, and are therefore grown as a 



