Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-07-20
Fall or Stubble TurnipS.

1t is seasonable now to SOW fields or odd
patches with the ordinary fall turnip.
True, they are not always IA sure crop, un-
less you are as persistent as market gard
ener mentioned by the Rural Ne1O Yorker,
who says it is his rule to keep sowing
until he overcomes the obstacles and gets a
good catch; and he has never been known
to fail. Turnips require fresh, rich, vigor-
GUS soil, so as TO insure quick, healthy
growth. AS ii is not usual to cultivate, to
any extent, those sown at this time of year.
lands should be selected that will be free
from weeds and grass, and thoroughly and
finely plowed, and narrowed down level
and smooth rs possible. Those who raise
potatoes for early marketing, usually sow
the same field to turnips after the early
crop has been taken off. AS the ground
was probably well MANFRED for the pota-
toes, is will be in the very best condition
for the turnips, after being plowed and
narrowed. Turnips succeed best in moist
soil, not too wet, for which reason plat of
sod of black or alluvial soil is often turned
over with care, and sowed after rolling and
narrowing. Fresh cleared land gives the
best promise of success, as upon that a crop
seldom fails. Seed is also sown among
corn and potatoes, at the time of late hoe
ing, but no very good results are within
our knowledge from this practice.
There are several varieties that NAV be
sown, such as the White and Purple-top
Norfolk, White Globe, and other similar
English sorts but the most popular kinds,
and those most sure TO succeed, are Ameri-
can varieties, known a. Purple-tOp Strap
leaved, and White-top Strap-leaved. The
purple or red-top is most in use Either
are quick growing varieties, and, if they
escape the ravages of the turnip fly, "A fair
crop may be reasonably anticipated. Seed
may be sown either in drills or broadcast,
the main point being to get it sOwn thin.
10 insure this, gardeners often mix it with
seed that will not grow, or fine sand,
saw-dust, or other substances, to scatter il
over more surface. Superphosphate of
lime, being acknowledged good fertilizer
for this crop, may be mixed in a finely
powdered form with the seed, the whole
Sown together broadcast, and brushed in
with few tree-tops or large branches fas-
tened into mass. The superphosphate
not only aCcelerateS the first growth. but
has been found one of the best preyentiyes
for the raVages of the fly.
One pound to one and half pounds OF
seed are ample for an acre. The usual sea
son is from the twentieth of June To the
middle of July, hut i'm good soil they may
be sOwn all of the latter month. The Ri
raj NeU Yorker states that the most sue
cessful crop it has ever known was sown
in Erie county, New York, on the Sth OF
August, of White Norfolks, from which
i'm sixty days, turnips weighing over SIX
pounds were taken TO market. The whole
field had been brushed over, including
wood and brush, by fire which caught
from passing railrod train. On good soil
we should not hesitate TO sow as late as the
list of August, since the harvesting can bC
delayed until quite severe frosts, and the
turnips make better bottoms, and are more
tender and sweet, grown in cool, moist
weather.