The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-08-13
Raleigh, N. c., August IS, 1901.
TURNIPs.
Mr.. Merriam Discusses the Best Methods of
Growing Them.

Growing Them.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
There is nothing on thA farm
which comes in more handy through
the fall than a good patch of turnips.
Even through the greater part of
the winter they will stand in the
field here at the South, and continue
to grow during every warm spell.
We have them on our table nearly
all winter, and believe there is no
vegetable which we enjoy for a longer
space of time during the year.
There are a great many more tur-
nips used at the South than at the
North, and they always meet with
ready sale in our Southern markets.
Turnips and turnip green's are in as
great demand as cabbages by the
trade and form one of the principal
crops of the gardeners in the vicinity
of the cities.
In order to have good turnips, it is
necessary to exercise more judgment
than you would at first suppose with
so simple a crop. A number of bad
failures were made in our vicinity
last fall the turnips were rough and
scabby with tendency to rot at the
center. The result was, that they
were tough, bitter, and unstable,
entailing considerable loss to the un-
fortunate grower.
shall have to admit that we had
one acre of turnips in this condition
ourselves, which were almost an en-
tire failure. But we we're not the
only ones, and 1 trust we have
learned wisdom by the experience.
The diseased condition, while
partly caused by hot weather, was
principally due to the use Of stable
manure. Now this may sound
strange, but it was a fact, neverthe-
less. The land where these turnips
were planted was already quite rich.
The manure which was applied in
the drill during the hot weather of
August when nitrifcatiOD is very
active, undoubtedly supplied an eX-
cess of ammonia. This forced too
luxuriant a growth of tops, making
the plants weak and more liable to
the attack of insect enemies. 1t is
all right to talk about insecticides
and fungicides, but it is better to
fPrtilize d crop in such manner as
to promote a healthy and vigorous
growth that will Withstand the at
tack of it's enemies. We have made
fine turnips with stable manure, but
it was on land which had not been
made so rich beforehand. and where
manure had not been used for several
years.
On another piece of land which
was equally as rich, made So by
former dressings of manure, we
grew as fine turnips last fall as you
could wish to see. But these turnips
were fertilized with commercial fer
tilizer. We used a fertilizer which
analysed about 9 per cent. phOsphoriC
acid, 2 per cent. nitrogen, and 5 per
cent. potash, and applied it at the
rate of 600 pounds to the acre. We
made this fertilizer by thoroughly
mixing together with a shovel on a
tight floor until it was of an even
color, the following ingredients 1900
pounds acid phosphate 500 pounds
cotton seed meal, and 200 pounds
muriate of potash, to make a ton.
This patch was prepared and the
guano applied in the drill several
weeks before the seed were sOwn.
We planted it as soon after rain as
possible and obtained a perfect stand.
1t was a success from the start.
The foregoing shows that when we
fertilize crop we must not forget |
to take into consideration the for
mer treatment of the land and it's
present condition, as we'll as the |
needs of the crop we wish to grow.
Where turnips are not planted un-
til October there will be very little |
or no trouble with scab or rotting, |
even if stable manure is used in large
quantities. NitriioatiOn goes on
slower after cool weather sets in and
insect life is less active. If you plant
during hot weather, however, it is
we'll to be careful how you apply
manure or fertilizer of a highly
nitrogenous character. And be sure
that there is an abundant supply of
potash in the fertilizer to make the
plants strong and healthy so they