The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-10-05
WEEKLY DIGEST
Of Experiment Station Bulletins.
No 90

AET6phE6u Dy Dc Alun LduUs 6LO SOA0CASO0 Az
readers Of The Progressive FarmarJ
INTERESTING ACT ABOUT RNIP
Bulletin "a of Alabama station is a
very intelligent and interesting treatise
on turnip culture, particularly for the
South.
In all comparative tests OF turnips
and corn ensilaee as a s~ucculent food
for stock in winter at the Northern ex
pertinent stations the results have been
largely in favor of ensilage, because
the same area Of land will produces
more ensilage than turnips, and at lees
cost.
But. in the South, the corn for en-.
eilage is produced in summer, while
turnips are a late fall and winter crop;
hence, instead of being competitors for
the occupancy of land, they a both
be grown on the Same land. Besides,
turnips must be harvested and stored
for protection during winter, in the
North, while in the South they may be
left in the field for cattle and sheep to
harvest at will. They are seldom in
iured by winter weather in the lower
South.
The soil should be loose and loemy,
and if not naturally rich, must be
made so, and fresh anu is just as
good as that which has rotted, for this
crop.
On perfectly clean land, where there
is no danger of grass or weeds spring
ing from the soil, turnips may be
grown broadcast. But in most cases
it is better to SOW in drills, thin to four
to six inches apart, and give some cuI-
tivation.
Sow when the ground is well moist
ened. If only slightly moist, the seeds
sprout and the young plants perish. If
the ground is dry, open drills and I'LL
them with water about shutdown, and
SOW the seed early next morning, rak
ing in a light covering of dry earth to
shade the soil snd prevent drying and
baking.
More than forty varieties were tested
at the Aiabaada station, many Of them
impaSted from France. It was found
that the fiat kinds grow almost entirely
above ground, and the long kinds about
half above ground, ind hence both are
liable to injury from freezing. The
globes grow almost wholly under
ground, and of these the yellow fshed
ones seem to be the hardest. For early
fall use, plant some good fat kind, like
A. T-%~o T,rI- D,rDlo Ton Milan or
the Purple Top Strap Leaf. For late
fall and early winter use, the Purple
Top White Globe. Fer late winter use,
the Golden Ball. For winter stock
feed, the Yellow Aberdeen Purple Top
Globe, while of poor quality, yields
more both of roots and tops than the
Golden Ball, and its heavy tops protect
the roots freezing.
Among the imported novelties, Scar
let Kasmyr is an early fat turnip the
color of a scarlet radish, but it is also
most as peppery as a radish and cooks
too strong to relish. On the other
hand, the Black Alsatian is Of very
superior favor, but is so scent in yield
as W UC uuuG lux ally SbAbS CAOCPS Goa
den culture under high conditions for
table use alone. 1t is a small. long,
carrot shaped turnip, having a dull
black, rough skin. But the 3sh is
white, fne-grained, sweet, juicy and
of fine, nutty flavor.
SUGGESTIVE FERTILIZER FACTS.
The West Virginia station has Just
issued a special bulletin giving analysis
Of 172 different brands Of fertilizers
sold in that State, giving the name OF
brand, the address Of the m~anufactur
ers, the quantities of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash claimed by the manu-
facturer, and the quantities found by
analysis, and the value of the shortage
or excess, as the case might be, Onjy
four brands were found below the
manufacturers guarantee, one being
worth SC. per ton less than if it had
come up to the guarantee, another IS
cents, another g so, and another S.. !
The name of this last was Daisy fer
tiliz9r." IL is noticed that ali fraudu |
lent fertilizers have high-sounding !
names, and extravagant claims are
made for them.
The other 1913 brands analyz ed we're
above the manufacturers guarantee, |
the excess being worth from % cents to
50. so per ton, ard averaging 50 80.
This shows that, whereas before the
law of West Virginia provided for in
spection and analysis by the station
chemist, the manufacturers generally
claimed that their fertibz RS were bet
ter than they actually were Now thew