VEGETABLES — DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 317 



able at both seasons, and still better is the mixture of 

 guano and superphosi^hate of lime. 



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 

 it. For the early crop seed grown north of the local- 

 ity in which it is sown is generally preferred, but for the 

 main crop, pure seed from handsome shaped roots of home 

 growth is sufficiently good. In the more Southern States, 

 sow early turnips late in January, or through February, 

 and farther North as soon as the ground is in a suitable 

 condition, and the danger of its becoming again frozen is 

 over ; that is, when the atmosphere begins to feel like 

 spring. Sow in drills fifteen inches apart, in fine, light, 

 well-manured soil, in drills one inch deep, covering the 

 seeds half an inch, with fine soil pressed thereon. Keep 

 the soil free from weeds. As soon as the plants get a lit- 

 tle 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 is the 

 kind to be preferred. They do much better in drills than 

 broadcast. 



For fall turnips, sow the Early White Dutch, etc., 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, 

 they will come up at once. Soot, wood ashes, and un- 

 slaked 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 in the more Southern States. The last of July or 

 the first of August is the time for sowing the main crop 



