The early vegetation of the seed is essential to n good crop of turnips. In its young and tender state it is liable to a variety of accidents. Its great enemy is the turnip fly (aided nemornin), which appears always in great quantities, if there is any continuance of dry weather. The more frequently turnips are sown on the same ground the more abundant is the fly, but where the surface has been pared and burned there is seldom any lass from this cause. It is generally found that in moist weather the fly does comparatively little harm, as then the vegetation is rapid, and the plant, when once it has put forth its rough leaves, is considered safe. Whatever therefore accelerates the vegetation, will secure the growth of the turnip. Hence the advautage of dunging the soil before winter, by which means it is enriched uniformly, and a great portion of the manure, having become soluble, absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. And in dry weather it is well to sow the seed with the water drill. As soon as the turnip plant has put forth its rough leaves, the intervals between the rows should be stirred with a light plough drawn by one horse. The plough can be made to go within an inch or two of the plants, throwing the earth from the row into the interval : a small harrow, which can be set to any required width, is then drawn between the rows to loosen the earth raised by the plough. This greatly increases the absorption of moisture and invigorates the young plants. They may now be thinned out and oven singled in the rows by means of a hoe about 12 inches broad, leaving plants a foot or more apart.. Thus the turnips are left at a proper distance, and, having ample room, will soon cover the rows. A horse-hoe is now drawn between the rows to eradicate all weeds and keep the soil open for the fibres of the roots to shoot in. It is not advisable to throw the earth over the turnips, unless it be just before winter, to protect them from the frost ; on the contrary, in wet weather the earth is more likely to cause the turnip to rot than to help its growth: The fibres which draw the nourishment strike in the soil below, and spread between the rows wherever they meet with a loose and mellow earth.
In order to have a heavy crop, especially of Swedish turnips, it is advisable to sow the seed early, that is, in southern counties, towards the end of May. They will then have the advantage of the slimmer showers, and be beyond the reach of the fly in a very few days, and when the dry weather seta in they will already have a supply of moisture in their roots, and the fibres, having struck deep, will not suffer any check. The only inconvenience of sowing early is that many of the planta are apt to run to seed. This is in many Caseliowing to the seed which is used. If the seed has been raised from fine roots which have stood the winter, there is little danger of the plants running to seed in the first summer ; but, as is often the case, if small imperfect roots are taken, or those which run to seed in autumn, then the plants will have a tendency to produce seed and not bulbs. The white Norfolk turnip and its varieties should be sown about midsummer to have a good and heavy crop before winter. The distance at which they may be left in thinning them out must depend on the variety, whether it has a wide spreading top or not. The best crops both of swedes and common field turnips are generally those where the tops are vigorous and moderately spreading. A small top will not nourish a large bulb : but when the growth is chiefly in the leaves, the bulbs are seldom large.
It may be considered as a general rule, that the most advantageous mode of consuming turnips is to draw them and cut them in slices in the field, to be there consumed in troughs by sheep, to which corn or oil-cake, as well as hay, is regularly given. When the crop of turnips is abundant, part of them may be stored for the cattle in the yard or fatting-stalls, and for the milch-cows and heifers. They will require nothing but good straw, if they have plenty of turnips, and no hay whatever need be used, unless it be for the horses ; and even they will thrive well on Swedish turnips and straw with a small quantity of oats.
Turnips are often left in the field all the winter, which greatly deteriorates them. If they cannot all be fed off before Christmas, they
should be taken up, and the tops being cut off within an inch of the crown of the root, they may be stored in long clampis five feet wide and four feet high, sloped like the roof of a house and covered with straw and earth, in which state they will keep till they are wanted. It is advantageous to have different varieties of turnips, which will come to perfection in succession ; and it is useful to sow some at different times for this purpose. The small turnip, which from its rapid growth is called the nimble turnip, may be sown as late as the end of August, and in mild seasons will produce tolerable bulbs in winter and early in spring. The frost will not injure a growing turnip so readily as one which is come to perfection and the leaves of which are withered. Some varieties, like the yellow Aberdeen and the green round turnip, are hardier than others, and will stand the winter well in a light and dry soil.
There are so many varieties cultivated, that it is difficult to enume rate them. The Swedish turnips may be classed according to the colour and size of their tops and the shape of the bulb. The best have but little stem rising from the bulh and a good tuft of leaves. The substance of the turnips is of a bright yellow and has a strong smell, especially when they have been kept some time. No frost will hurt them, if they are kept dry ; but alternate rain and frost will do them harm. When they are stored, it is advantageous that the air should have free access ; and for this purpose it has been recommended to place them between hurdles set upright and to slightly thatch them with straw to keep out the rain. In this way they keep longer sound than when put in clamps covered with straw and earth.
Of the field turnip there are numerous varieties. The common Norfolk turnip is round and flat, the bulb being half buried in the ground ; it throws out no fibres, except from the slender root which proceeds from the centre of the bulb. There is a subvariety which is reddish at the insertion of the leaves, and another of a green huo tho latter is the hardiest. The globe turnip takes its name from its shape ; it rises more out of the ground, and grows to a greater size; like the last it is either entirely white or red or green near the crown. It is on the whole the most productive and hardy. The tankard turnip rises high out of the ground, and approaches in shape to the maugel-wurzeL It grows to the greatest size ; but it is apt to become spongy if left long on the ground, and its weight is not in proportion to its bulk. There are red tankards and green tankards, as well as white. The green round turnip is considered very hardy, and is usually sown late, to be consumed after the winter. The yellow Aberdeen, although somewhat less, is compact, and stands the winter well : it is a very useful variety.
Those who are possessed of a good variety will do well to raise their own seed, as that which is bought cannot always be depended upon ; the best-shaped middle-sized bulbs should be chosen, the leaves being cut off not nearer than an inch from the crown. They should be planted in a mellow soil, in rows three feet wide, and a foot from bulb to bulb in the rows, about March or April. When the pods are well filled with seeds, and these are round and hard, the stem should be cut close to the root and carefully laid under a shed to dry. The seed will ripen there without shedding, and when the pods are quite dry, the seed is easily beaten out with a stick or light flail. Birds are so fond of it, that a constant watch must be kept, and this is the reason why so few farmers grow their own seed. Turnip seed is often raised in the gardens of cottagcrs, whose children keep off the birds, and it is a branch of industry which every farmer should encourage. He can readily see that good bulbs only are used, and he secures the seeds he wants, while the cottager is well paid for his trouble. This is perhaps the most convenient mode of raising the seed on a large farm. It is best to use fresh seed, as it always germinates sooner. Machines which sow the seed and manure in drills at the same time may be had of most of the manufacturers of improved agricultural implements.