Improvement of the Plants of the Farm. 
95 
nington, N.B., says that turnips have been very much improved 
by the crossing of different varieties, and he names among 
improved sorts Fostertoun and Dale's hybrid swedes, which are 
full croppers, but not the most hardy, the quickest in growth 
being the most rapid in decay. The Green-top swede and 
Aberdeen Green-top Yellow turnip keep better than others, and 
stand frost better. The varieties of Skirving's swede and yellow 
turnip are intermediate. 
In some districts in the north a special reason is given why 
Skirving's purple-top yellow, which was a great favourite twenty- 
five years ago, is hardly ever grown now. This is its liability 
to mildew. Fostertoun hybrids are much more free in growth 
than the other yellows, but they should be used before the New 
Year. Purpie-top swedes are the main crop ; next to them in 
importance are Fostertoun Hybrid Yellow, then Aberdeen Green- 
top Yellow. White turnips are not much grown, except an acre 
or two for early use, or when swedes fail and the sowing is late. 
Swedes are usually sown from the 10th to the 25th of May, 
Fostertoun's until the end of June, and, as a rule, Aberdeen 
Yellows are not sown after about June 10. I need not say that 
stubble-turnips are not sown in the north. Fostertoun Hybrid 
is greatly approved in Cumberland as a free-growing turnip, 
which produces a great crop, and feeds sheep and cattle well, 
k One cannot always give even the name of the introducer of an 
\ improved sort, still less relate the history of his patience and 
skill in its cultivation. The Fostertoun improvements, however, 
were first introduced by Mr. Robert Hutchison, of Fostertoun, 
Fifeshire. 
The Bangholm swede is in much request in some districts in 
the north of England where cabbages are not grown. 
The best farmers in the seed-growing and other districts in 
Essex, Beds, and other counties, are of opinion that no farm- 
I crops have been improved more than root-crops, and that seeds- 
men have done good service in raising fine strains which 
produce heavier crops than those formerly grown. The fol- 
lowing sorts are spoken of with favour : — -Pomeranian White 
•i Globe turnip, for early folding ; Green Round turnip, and 
Aberdeen Yellow Bullock, which has little tendency to run to 
green in spring ; the Tankard swedes, for pitting till lambing- 
time, and several other swedes. 
Among other turnips of the southern districts are White Globe, 
Grey Stone, Green Round and Red Round and Tankard turnips, 
j, and Purple-top and White swedes. The Pomeranian turnips 
[ were formerly the best for early folding. On light land in 
t Surrey we usually commenced folding this turnip by Sep- 
' tember 1, when the crop of roots and leaves together was a 
