five to seven years.

_Propagation and Culture._--All the sorts are propagated by seeds; which
should be sown where the plants are to remain, as they do not generally
succeed well when transplanted. Sowings for early use may be made the
last of April, or beginning of May; but as the bulbs are seldom produced
in perfection in the early part of the season, or under the influence of
extreme heat, the sowing should be confined to a limited space in the
garden. The seeds may be sown broadcast or in drills: if sown in drills,
they should be made about fourteen inches apart, and half an inch in
depth. The young plants should be thinned to five or six inches asunder.
For a succession, a few seeds may be sown, at intervals of a fortnight,
until the last week in July; from which time, until the 10th of August,
the principal sowing is usually made for the winter's supply. In the
Middle States, and the warmer portion of New England, if the season is
favorable, a good crop will be obtained from seed sown as late as the
last week in August.

_Harvesting._--Turnips for the table may be drawn directly from the
garden or field until November, but must be harvested before severe
freezing weather; for, though comparatively very hardy, few of the
varieties will survive the winters of the Northern States in the open
ground.

_Seed._--As the various kinds readily hybridize, or intermix, only one
variety should be cultivated in the same neighborhood for seed. Select
the best-formed bulbs, and transplant them out in April, in rows two
feet apart, and one foot apart in the rows, just covering the crowns
with earth, or leaving the young shoots level with the surface of the
ground.

An ounce of seed will sow eight rods of land, and a pound will be
sufficient for an acre.

_Varieties._--The varieties are numerous, as follow:--

ALTRINCHAM. _Law._

Yellow Altrincham. Altringham.

This is a yellow-fleshed, field variety, of rather less than average
size. The bulb, however, is of a fine, globular shape, with a
light-green top, very small neck and tap-root, and possessed of
considerable solidity.

BORDER IMPERIAL.

Border Imperial Purple-top Yellow.

Bulb five or six inches in diameter, nearly spherical, sometimes
flattened, and usually very smooth and symmetrical; skin yellow, the
upper surface of a bright purple; flesh yellow, firm, and sugary; leaves
large.

The variety is of English origin, and is recommended for its earliness