The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-08-04
AUGUST.
TURNIP CULTURE.

It seems strange tnae ~hen tne
feeding qualities Of turnips have
been 50 long recognized in foreign
countries that they have been 50
long in establishing themselves here
for a like purpose, and asa product
ofan acre is so large, and aside from
its feeding qualities, their sanitary
effect upon stock 50 Beneficial 1t
seems as if the farmersvnos only
stock rrisers, but dairymen-wouses
more generally adopt the practice
Of raising this crop. and using
them iudicially as a winter feed
to vary the monotony Of unohang-
ing hay and cornmeal. .~,.
The turnip is not a very dis
eliminating plant, and any gooo
soil free from weeds, and Kept so,
will produce turnips, though a
loamy or we'll fertilized sandy soil
will best succeed. IF the crop is
drilled in, the rows should be about
fifteen inches apart, and after the
crop has established itself it should
be thinned down to two. or three
plants to the foot. IF the crop is
for table use new land should be
selected as land that has been
cropped long is liable to impart q
strong, un3alatable taste.
The crop may be sown st any
time after the weather becomes
settled in the spring, but for stock
feeding the first half of July will
be best suited, both for the conven-
ience Of gathering and because
the turnip favors cool, moist Wea-
ther, which the late fall months
furnish.
The ways that turnirs can be
sown and yet not require a special
preparation Of the land are many.
know farmer who, after the
last hoeing Of his potatoes, scatters
the seed thinly along the rows,
and when the potatoes are dug
the dirt is pulled back into the
last hill, and the turnips are not
disturbed. The fine soil that
works down about them rather
helps than Injuries them, and a big
crop of turnips usually results.
Sowing among the corn is another
not Objectionable method, for the
turnips will not draw very much
upon the soil until after the corn
is cut up, and the after crop. Will
prove q far more profitable one
than planting pumpkins among the
corn and far less injurious to the
Development of the ears.
Among root crops rutabagas
hold a favorable position, but can
not be sown broadcast with any
certainty; and #. labor is to be ta-
ken into account, the turnip is the
crop requiring the least labor.
With increased attention to its
cultivation there has come into no.
tice score Of new varieties, and
in addition to the old familiar
names, We hear of the White Egg,
Golden Ball, etc., each excellent,
but will be a long while in super
seding the Early Dutch, Purple
Top, Strap Leaf, and for more
southern latitndes, the Long White
holds conspicuous place, with no
real rival.
If the turnip is to be fed to stock
it is not necessary to cut of the
tops, especially if you have a root
cellar where a low, even tempera-
ture can be kept, and the green
relish of the leaves together with
the bulb will cause them to be eag-
erly deVoured. With turnips, feed
tops and all to sheep, with small
additional quantity Of green, either
oats or corn, the amount Of hay
required for a flock Of sheep will
be very small. If our farmers
would make up their minds to give
this root trial, their superior
feeding qualities would meet with
prompt recognition.-John Zyjp,
in Practical Farmer.