28 On the different Species, fyc. of the Genus Brassica. 



of particular localities famous for their excellent Turnips. 

 Thirdly, the different shades in the colour of the Turnip 

 seem to deserve more attention than its size and flavour, and 

 offer some varieties* and sub-varieties to observation. The 

 White Turnip, alba, is the most common of all ; it is entirely 

 white, except near the origin of the stem, where the root 

 being exposed to the light, the skin takes a reddish tint. 

 The Yellow Turnip, Jlavescens, is of a pale apricot colour on 

 the outside and inside ; it is not so common as the white kind, 

 neither does it grow to so large a size, but it deserves the 

 preference for culinary purposes, being much sweeter than 

 the former. The Black Turnip, nigricans, known to most of 

 the ancients, 1 !* I have never seen, nor am at all acquainted 

 with. The Red Turnip, punicea, has the skin of the fleshy 

 part red, and appears to be a slight degeneration of the 

 white species. Lastly, the Green Turnip, viridu, mentioned 

 by the ancients, is more likely to prove an accidental variety 

 than a permanent one. 



Second Race. Brassica Rapa oblonga.J 

 This race differs essentially from the preceding in the 

 shape of its root, which forms an oblong tuber, growing 



* It would occupy too much space to give here the names, and peculiar cha- 

 racters of the great numbers of Turnips grown in the gardens and fields of 

 England and France ; whenever it is attempted, the classification by colours 

 proposed by M. De Candolle will form a good plan of arrangement. Sec. 



f C. Bauhin's Pinax, 89-90.— Tournefort Inst. 228. 



\ Oblong Turnips are well known to the English farmers, by whom they are 

 grown, under the names of Tankard Turnips and Decanter Turnips ; there are 

 white and red varieties of these; the roots being of looser texture, they are less 

 able to support the severity of our winters, and therefore are used for autumnal 

 feeding, before they can be injured by frosts. Sec. 



