The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-07-21
Culture and Use of the Turnip.

The common fiat English turnlp was in
troduced into this country with English an
ceslry and has ever since been an object of
cultivation. When boiled it is an agreea-
bic vegetable for the table. It's prin ciple
value, however, is food for cattle and sheep,
by which 1t is eaten uncooked. It's compa-
rive nutritive properties are small. but the
great bulk which can be raised on a given
piece of ground, and the facility and econo-
my of cultivation, have always rendered it
favourite with such farmers as have soil
and stock adapted TO its profitable produc-
ton and use.
A good soil for it is fertile sand or
we'll drained loam. Any soil adapted to
Indian orn will produce good turnips. But
it only on new land or freshly turned sod ,
that they are most successful. An untitled
virgin earth, with the rich dressing of ash
es left after the recent burning of accumula-
ted vegetable matter, and free from weeds
and insects, is the surest and most produc-
tive for turnip crops. Such lands need no
manure. For sward ground, or clover
ley, there should be heavy dressing of
fresh, unfermented manure before blowing
CuLT1vArloN.-Turnips may be sown
at any time from the 10Th of June to the
lst of August The first will give great.
er yield; the last gcncrrlly soundcr root
and capable Of longer preservation. The
ground should be plowed and narrowed i'm
mediately before sowing, as the moisture
insures rapid termination ofthe seed, which
is OF great Importance to get it beyond the
reach Of insects as soon as possible. This
may be sown broadcast at the rate of one
or two pounds per acre and lightly harrow
ed and rolled or it is better to be sown in
drills, when less quantity ofseed will suf-
fee. A turnip drill will speedily accom-
plish the furrowing, sowing, covering and
rolling at single operation. The crop
will be materially assisted by top dres-
sing of lime, ashes and plaster, at the rate
of fifteen or twenty bushels Of the first, half
the quantity of second, and three or four bu-
shells ofthe last, per acre. When the plants
show themselves and the leaves are partial
ly expanded, the eullivator or hoe may be
freely used, stirring the ground we'll and
exterminating all weeds.
RurA-BAeA OR SwEpEs TuRNlp.-The in
PRODUCTION of this article is comparatively
recent, and it proves to be more worthy of
attention than the English or white turnip.
1t will bear a. heavier soil, yield as we'll,
give a richer root, and it has the advantage
of keeping longer in good condition, thus
.prolonging the winter food of cattle when
they most need it.
e CuLrIvAT1oN.-t is usually planted on
wheat or corn, but if fresh virgin soil or
old pasture sod Is chosen, it will materially
1lessenit its liability to insects and other ene-
mies.-It is generally in drills sown two
feet apart, and on heavy lands; these should
Sbe slightly ridged. The plants must be
successively theinned to prevent interfering
with such as intended to mature, but
enough should remain to provide for casu.
alties. Where there is deficiency, they
may be supplied by transplanting during
ishoWry weather. They should be left six
or eight inches apart in the drills. The
sswede turnip is a gross feeder, and requires
either g rich soh or heavy ;manuring. though
the use Of fresh manures has been snnnosed 81
Ito facilitate the multiplication 81. enem;es
Bones, ground and drilled in with the seed
sor e dressing Of lime, ashes, gypsum and
ssllt. are the best applications that can .be
made. The Swede should be sown from
shout the Goth May to the II l5ths June, earl.
thnnIthe English turnip, jas It takes long.
ser sson,atare and 1.-TWO Or three weeks more