Turnip 



285 



TURNIP 



Cool, short season and a moist soil are the requisites 

 for best turnips. Ttie seed germinates quickly. Hardy. 



The true turnips usually have flat or very oblate 

 roots, soft white flesh, and green, rough-hairy leaves. 

 Fig. 66. They do not require the full season in which 

 to mature, and are therefore grown as a spring or 

 fall crop. The herbage is very hardy, withstanding 



Fig. 65. Seedlings of turnip. Two-thirds natural size. 



considerable frost without injury. For early use tur- 

 nips are sown as soon as the land can be prepared in the 

 spring. They should give roots large enough for the 

 table in six to ten weeks. For the fall crop, seeds may 

 be sown in the northern states as late as the last week 

 in July, and in the middle states as late as the middle of 

 August. The plants will grow until heavy freezing 

 weather, at which time they may be pulled and stored 

 as other roots are. Unlike parsnips and salsify, the 

 roots will not stand hard freezing. 



The value of the turnip as an article of food lies 



