212 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ March 24, 1892. 
FORCED TURNIP TOPS. 
Until the recent cold north-east winds our prospect of an 
abundant supply of winter and spring greens was good, but the 
severe weather of the last month made sad havoc with all kinds 
except Reed’s Improved Borecole and Carter’s Purple Sprouting 
Broccoli. 
Under similar circumstances in the spring of 1888 we, in 
common with many others, were driven to our wit’s end to meet 
the usual demand for vegetables, and having plenty of Swedish 
Turnips at the farm we determined to force some of these into 
growth and use it as a substitute for Kale. We selected a quantity 
of roots with entire crowns and packed them closely together in 
cutting boxes, filling the interstices with old sifted potting soil, and 
placed them in the Mushroom house. In this warm, dark abode 
they soon produced growth G inches long, which made, in the 
words of Mr. J, Wright, “ a distinct, excellent and useful dish.” 
That gentleman also suggested at the same time that we should 
force some white Turnips in the same way, thinking “ the flavour 
might be a little different though perhaps not better.” We, how¬ 
ever, had no white Turnips to spare at the time, and have not had 
occasion to force any until this winter, but now, having done so, 
our report is that the flavour in our opinion is not only different 
but decidedly better. The Swede tops, unless properly prepared 
before being cooked, have a rather strong, turnip flavour ; also 
the colour is a little too yellow to be agreeable to some. Both 
these objectionable qualities are absent from the common Turnip 
top ; indeed if they are forced in the same way as Seakale, and 
cut when about 6 inches long, they make a dainty, wholesome 
dish. 
Those anticipating a scarcity of green vegetables or in search of 
greater variety will find a useful addition in both the white and 
Swedish Turnips treated in the way described above. The white 
Turnip top requires no preparation before cooking, but the flavour 
and colour of the Swede growths are much improved if the leafy 
portion is cut away before cooking, that being the part which 
imparts to them the rather strong flavour. 
In many places common Turnip tops are much appreciated in 
the spring, hence those who take the precaution to clamp a good 
stock in early winter have the means at command of producing 
abundance of green in case of scarcity from other sources. We 
make several sowings of White Stone Turnip from the middle of 
July to the end of August on ground that has been cleared of 
early Potatoes, but those sown about the middle of August 
generally make the best roots for winter use. When they have 
ceased growing, and before severe frost sets in, we select the best 
medium size roots and clamp them in a cool shady place so as to 
keep them good as long as possible. 
On the first opportunity after the middle of March it is good 
practice to plant a few score or hundred roots, according to the 
expected demand, 6 inches apart on ground previously dug and 
prepared for the purpose. These will meet the demand for “ tops,” 
and is better in every way than trusting to secure a supply from roots 
that may or may not have stood the winter in the seed bed. It should 
be borne in mind that Turnip tops grow very rapidly in spring and 
soon become too far advanced for culinary purposes, but if the tops 
are cue when about 6 inches long the season will be prolonged from 
secondary growths.—J. H. W., Leicester. 
ROCK GARDENS. 
(^Continued from joaeje 81.') 
In my former paper on this subject I mentioned some of the 
difficulties with which owners of rock gardens had to contend, I 
would now mention another, which is a very grievous one—the 
swarms of slugs and snails ; those universal foes of the gardener 
whether he be a grower of flowers or vegetables. How many 
times has the kitchen gardener to mourn over the destruction of 
his young Lettuces which he has planted out with such tender 
care, all devoured in one night by these marauders, while the same 
thing often takes place with the tender young plants of annuals, 
and such succulent juicy morsels. The rock garden is their peculiar 
happy hunting ground, the stones afford them such delightful 
shelter, whence they can emerge at their own sweet will, and 
while the owner is indulging in peaceful slumbers they are 
very wide awake, and when he goes down to his rockery, what 
anatheinas he is ready to heap on them when he sees that they 
have nibbled off some favourite whose opening beauties he had 
expected to admire. And these depredators are gourmets as well 
as gourmands, for there are some plants to which they are 
especially devoted. Thus I have never been able to keep 'Tulipa 
Gregi from them, and I have taken off a clump of Puschkinia 
scilloides as many as eighteen in one morning, and yet the next 
morning have found more, while in an herbaceous border of a 
number of Delphiniums near to one another, I have known them 
to leave all others to have their breakfast off D. belladonna- 
But why, it may be said, do you not put zinc collars round 
them ? Well, so I have, but with no avail. I believe they bury 
themselves in the soil around the plant, and then emerge at feeding- 
time. 
I have said that had I seen some of the rockeries I have since 
visited I should have made mine somewhat different. In one 
respect especially is this the case. I should not have made it 
quite so flat. Of course, such grand rockwork as Backhouse’s 
is not much of a guide to a small bit like mine, and I think 
that some which I have seen have erred in the opposite direction; 
but withal, I should prefer that mine had a little more elevation. 
One often sees on the Alps many of these exquisite gems, grow¬ 
ing high up, but on flat places, on patches of soft short grass, 
as I remember seeing Silene acaulis on a small patch on the top 
of the Uol de Balme over Chamounix, where the ground was 
perfectly level, and where its beautiful little pink flowers con¬ 
trasted so beautifully with the short green grass in which it grew— 
a view of floral beauty I shall never forget. 
In selecting plants for the rockery persons had better make up 
their minds before what they wish their character to be, and select 
accordingly. As it was my idea that those which were to fill mine 
should be in the main of dwarf and low-growing habit I have 
only admitted plants of this character, except in a very few 
instances for special reasons ; and I would add, that where there is 
room plants should be planted so as to form groups, and not to be 
grown as isolated specimens. 
Acsena novse-zeelandise is one of those low-growing plants which 
cover a good space, and through which many plants do not mind 
having to push their way. Its minute crimson spikelets are very 
pretty in themselves and the foliage is very small. I am not quite 
sure that it is perfectly hardy in our severest winters. u3Ethionema 
grandiflora is a very pretty plant allied to the Candytufts ; indeed, I 
think this used to be catalogued Iberis jucunda. It requires a rich 
and deep soil. I grew it successfully for some years, but latterly it 
has not done so well, and has, I fear, been crowded out by other 
plants. The Androsaces form a charming company of beautiful 
rosy pink flowers ; some are very easy to cultivate, others just the 
reverse. Thus A. carnea and its Mont d’Or variety eximea are plants 
I have never been able to manage, and I have rarely seen them well 
done except in pots ; still, I suppose with care they can be managed. 
Androsace sarmentosa, a Himalayan species, spreads most rapidly 
and is very curious in its mode of growth. In the winter it subsides 
into little close growing rosettes, which would lead one to believe 
it to be one of the Sempervivums; as it commences growth in 
spring, then unfolds. The flower stem rises from the centre, and long 
thread-like creeping stolons appear, which take root and fresh plants 
are formed on them. A. lanuginosa is another very pretty species. 
The foliage is soft and silky, the flowers are bright rose with a 
yellow eye. Owing to the character of the foliage, in which wet is 
apt to lodge, it will be better to give this plant the protection of a 
glass cover during the winter months. I have found A. villosa 
most easy to grow— i.e., if I have it true. I should have had no 
doubt on the subject had not a friend who has much larger ex¬ 
perience said he could not manage it. 
The Anemones form an interesting group of early spring flower¬ 
ing Alpines (if the term is applicable, for several of them are natives). 
I have already mentioned apennina as a charming plant for the 
rockwork ; there are, however, several others which we cannot do 
without. There is that brilliant A. fulgens audits Greek form most 
brilliant. A. nemorosa flore-pleno, the double form of our native 
Windflower, which, with its pure white star-shaped flowers carpet 
many of our copses in the early months of the year. A. palmata 
with its broad flat leaves, so unlike those of an Anemone, and its 
bright yellow flowers, together with its variety palmata alba, is a 
very beautiful species. A. pulsatilla, the Basque Flower, abundant 
in some parts of our islands, is another of the genus which is 
always a favourite from its peculiar colour and curious fluffy 
foliage. I have it on the rockery, but I think it is more suited 
for the border. A. alpina is a charming species, but I have never 
succeeded with it. Anemone ranunculoides is a charming dwarf 
yellow flowering Wood Anemone of easy culture and very suited 
for a rockery. Anemone sylvestris is, as I have already said, a plant 
to be avoided for the rockwork, although in some parts of the 
garden it may be used as it is useful cutting, but on the rockery I 
have found it to be a great nuisance. Arenaria balearica is a 
useful little carpeting plant which may be placed anywhere on 
the rockery ; it runs over stones, &c., where its pretty little white 
stars of blooms make it very pleasing.—D., Deal. 
(To be continued.) 
