The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-06-05
aaritulturul.
Culture of the Turnip.
lIarpet's Weekly

1t is scarcely practicable to carry on q
correct and profitable system Of husbandry,
without the introduction Of green and roo,
crops among which Turnips and Potatoes
deserve special attention. as being among
the msst valuable products Of the farm no,
only US suitable change in the rotation,
but also highly esteemed for their usuful-
ness, in cattle feeding, and for domestic pur-
poses.
Turnips are most important root for the
fa:tening Of cattle /; although by some, the
Turnip crop is considered merely rs n catch
crop (the meaning Of which is. that the crop
is produced upon land that would otherwise
have remained naked fellow through the
season in order that the soil might be prop
srly titled by repeated plowings, freed from
root weeds, manurei, and prepared for the
succeeding grain crop,) 1t therefore may be
considered an economical crop, as tho land
during the cultivation and growth of the
Turnips, receives the requisite preparation
for the grain crop which is to follow, with
the exception Of a single plosins after the
Turnips are removed from the land.
Turnip may be divided into three gener'
al classes--the round Or globe shaped, the
depressed or Norfolk and the fusiform or
oblong. They are likewise sometimes dis
guishei by their color, as the white, the
yellow, and the purple-toTped but these
classes have, however, many intermediate
varietiesithat have been obtained by cross
ing the sorts. The white, with the green
purple-topped, are early kinds, and grow
well on lightish soil and produces a
crop with a less quantity of manure than
the Others. These kinds do not, however
last 50 long Us the Others, as they are more
mp, to run to seed, or to bo injured by the
frosts. The Aberdeen Yellow is kind be.
tween the Globe and the Ruta Biga OF
Swedish Turnip, and is much harder than
the Globe il is also later in coming TO ma
turity, is better oble to Withstand the frost,
and generally yields good crop. The
Swedish Turnip is, however much the hsr'
diest, and will resist the frost to much
greater extent than any other variety, and
will retain its juices to much later period
in the spring. The Swedish Turnip, hsw.
ever. requires full dressing of manure to
produce good crop. This species of Tur-
nip will, while the plants are young, bear
transplanting much better than the Others,
Consequently any blank spaces in the crop
can be filled up, providing they are thans'
planted rs early in tho hooing season n,
practicable.
The time Of sowing the different varic.
ties varies /; much depending on the season
and climate those that are most solid and
nutritiye require the longest time to grow.
and should therefore DO sown soonest; and
on this account the Swedish should be sown
pretty carly.
The quantity Of seed should always b
liberal, for by sowing too little, the crop
sometimes fails for when the plants ar,
attacked by insects. and are thin on tn,
ground the crop will bo DESTROYED; where.
as il the plants are numerous, they grow
quicker, and are more likely to withstand
the rayages OF insects, or q droughty sea
son
nj. l.:.. LII Al ,,v>or "a m rorr rplet