146] T U R Turmeric has a weak, though agreeable, smell ; and a bitterish, pungent taste : it is internally of a deep safFron-colour, which it com- municates to watery infusions.— This drug is, by the Indians, prin- cipally employed for seasoning rice, and other culinary preparations : — it is reputed to be aperient, and of considerable efficacy in the jaun- dice ; but is chiefly consumed in dyeing the finest yellow colours, which are also the least permanent ; and giving a brighter, though pe- rishable, shade to scarlet cloth, — Sec also Yellow. TURNEP, TURNIP, or Knol- iES, Brassica Rapa, L. an indi- genous biennial plant, growing in corn-fields, and chiefly in their borders j where it flowers in the month of April. There are many varieties of the turnip, which are cultivated, both for feeding cattle, and for culinary purposes j but we shall enumerate only the principal, namely : 1. The Oval, Common JVhite- siock, or Norfolk Turnip. 2. The L urge Green- topped Tur- nip attains a considerable size, and IS very sweet and soft ; but, grow- ing above the ground, it is liable to be injured by severe frosts. 3. The Purple-stock resembles the first variety, excepting that its size is somewhat smaller ; the rind is of a dark-red or purple colour ; and its pulp is also more close and firm, than that of the Common Nor- folk turnip. It withstands the se- verity of winter, without receiving material injuiy, and is more suc- culent in the spring ; but, not be- ing relished by cattle so well as either of the two preceding varie- ties, it is not generally cultivated. 4. The Ruta-baga, or Swedish t)imip, is one of the most valnable iroot£ of the kind. Its inside is TU R cither white or yellow ; which co- lour, however, does not affed its quality: it is more hardy than either of the preceding varieties, and suff'ers no injury from the most intense cold. — As this tur- nip, when allowed to ^eerfnear the Oval, or Norfolk white, produces numerous varieties ; it has been conje6tured, that a new sort may, by a judicious intermixture, be ob- tained, which will probably acquire from the one, a sufficient degree of hardiness, to resist the winter j 'and, from the other, an increase of size, as well as a quicker growth. 5. The Hastings is a new va- riety, imported, several years since, from Tibet, in Asia, by Govemor Hastings. — This plant has not been hitherto cultivated to any ex- tent ; but it appears, as far as we can ascertain, to be one of the most wholesome and profitable roots of this species. Turnips, in general, succeed better in light soils, consisting of a mixture of sand and loam, than in very rich or heavy lands : — the crops of the latter will be rank, and run to flower at too early a period of the spring ; though their weight may not be perceptibly di- minished. These roots are raised fi-om seed, which ought to be changed an- nually, or every second year, with- out exception j as it is apt to de- generate, and the quality of the roots will consequently be impaired. The season for sowing, varies ac- cording to the time of feeding : thus, if the turnips be intended for feeding cattle from December to Febmary, the seed must be committed to the ground from the middle of May to the end of June; but, in case they be designed to supply food till May, it should not be
