The Exeter Advocate, 1918-3-14, Page 7By Agronomist,
ibis e•epartment is for the use of our farmreaders`who want the advice
'at an expert on any question regarding soli, seed, crops, etc, If your gtrestlon
G f
e of sufficient general interest, it will be answered through this column° t_
a3ta,rnped and addressed envelopeis enclosed with your letter, a complete
answer will be mailed to, you. Address Agronomist, care of Wilson Publishing
Oo,, Ltd„ 73 Adelaide $t. W. Toronto.
Til rnips, Cabbage and Onions.
The turnip is one of our best root-
cl'oias,` and ,,one which ha's: become a
standby in many families,
The garden turnips, the only kind
to be considered here, are divided into
the white and yellow fleshed, or tur-
nip and rutabaga, although: properly
speaking the latter name belongs
alone to the Swedish division of the
yellow ones. The .yellow -fleshed tur-
nips are grown principally for winter
'use, the white early ones being used
for the all -season and early crops.
The turnip is a gross feeder and de-
mands good
e-mands'good soil or a poor crop will
be the :result. ' The -soil should be
well worked so as to be fine and mel-
low before the planting is done, and
the soil in the drills, when they have
been. made, freed from small clods,
For garden usew;make the drills a foot
apart and an inch deep.
Sow the seed in the drills sparingly,
dropping them about an inch apart,
and cover with fine soil and gently
press ,down over the top of the drills
with the back of a hoe or a piece of
board. Germination ' will be hastened
if you keep the drills moist, but not
soggy, until the young plants; appear.
Vrhen the plants get to a height of
an inch thinning should be done. This
is important and depends as to spac-
ing on the kinds planted. Most of
the early, flat strap -leaved ones grow
to a diameter of three inches under
good cultivation, although most per-
sons 'begin to pick them when they
are half an inch smaller. For this
feason they should be thinned out to
our incises apart in the drills. If
you are fond of turnip sauce and like
the tops as greens used like spinach,
iick, the, turnips when they are two
nches in diameter and. thin them out
to' three inches apart in the :