The Backyard Garden; A Handbook for the Amateur, the Community and the School (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ...hardy, they can be left in the ground all winter, and will be highly appreciated when spring comes. If the ground where they are planted is covered with boards or hay late in the season, the parsnips can be dug out at intervals through the winter. Of course in the States farther South they are available at all times. The Student parsnip is one of the best for the home garden, although Hollow Crown is probably better known. The turnip is a particularly useful garden vegetable because of its quick growth. It is unrivaled for planting here and there about the garden to occupy empty spaces where other seeds have not come up. White Milan is perhaps the best of the early sorts, although Purple Top Munich is popular. Both are ready for the table in two months from the time they are planted. Like all quick-growing vegetables, however, they must be used promptly, for they soon get tough and stringy. These same varieties can be sown at intervals of two weeks all through the summer. About the first of July a generous planting of winter turnips should be made. Probably the most satisfactory kinds are those of the rutabaga type. The rutabagas are also called Swedish and Russian turnips. They grow very large, keep perfectly, and are unsurpassed for table use. American Purple Top is an excellent variety. Because of its value as a winter vegetable the rutabaga turnip should be given an extra large amount of space. This can be done to advantage from the fact that its late planting allows it to follow an early crop like peas or spinach. The early turnips should stand about three inches apart, and the seed be planted half an inch deep. The rutabagas will require twice as much space, and perhaps more. Another root crop which requires practically the same care as the rutabaga i...