SUPPLY OF TURNIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1938, Page 2

SUPPLY OF TURNIPS

suc6essiOnal soWiHg. NECESSARY. Successioriai sowihgs of turnips are necessary if ah unbroken supply is desired. An early crop of small bulbs is easily procured by sowing early in August on a mild hotbed, and this is followed in September and October by small sowings of suitable varieties in sheltered places in the garden. Successions! sowings are made from November to January, the principal crop for autumn and winter use. Spring and summer turnips must be grown rapidly to be tender and of good flavour, so a deep, rich soil is expedient. They undoubtedly do best on deep sandy loam. The ground must be well dug and as deep as possible, with plenty of farm or stable manure worked in well below root level. Lime is esseritial to this crop, and rhay be applied on the surface just before sowing the seed at the rate of four ounces to the square yard. For the main crop, it is advisable to use the following mixture of artificials at the rate Of four ounces per square yard ten days or a fortnight before sowing the sefed; One part of sulphate of ammonia, two parts sulphate of potash, and four parts superphosphate of lime.

The surface soil must be raked down to a fine tilth, and drills drawn out 12 to 15 inches apart. A less distance will serve for the early crops, but plenty of space facilitates hoeing and other routine cultural work. Sow the seeds thinly, and just cover with fine soil. Timely and judicious thinning is very important, so this must be done as early as possible. Do the work gradually and regularly until the plants are spaced at suitable distances, four to nine inches apart, according to variety and requirements. Routine culture comprises regular hoeing and weeding. For very earliest crops Early Snowball, White Gem and Jersey Navet are excellent. For sowing in succession for spring and summer use. Early 'White Milan and Jersey Lily; and for the main crop for autumn and winter use, there are none better than Model Winter, Green Top, Orange Jelly, Golden Rose and Manchester Market. Improved Early White Stone is another good variety for summer use. A row or two of garden swede, sown in December Will also prove very serviceable.