242 



JODBNAIi OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGK GAKDBNEB. 



[ April S, 1869. 



flowering shoot. J-i;/. 2 is a portion of the shoot with pods of 

 the natural eize, and beside this shoot is a pod a of the plant 

 as improved. Jug. 3 (reduced one-hal/) represents a root of the 

 wild plant as seen in plants which have attained about their 

 full growth. 



As in the present case the whole of the progress 

 made consists in the increased size of the roots, it 

 ■will be useful to state their comparative weight in 

 the wild and cultivated states. The root shown 

 in A'?- 3 {thie, like all the succeeding figures, is 

 half the natural size), when about full grown, 

 weighed 339.515 grains (22 grammes), and was 

 ■white, dry, fibrous, leathery, and uneatable, even 

 when fresh-taken up. 



The root shown in Jii/. i was white, slightly 

 tinged with purple at the top. Its length from 

 the collar to the extremities of the roots was 

 17.717 inches, its greatest diameter 2.362 inches, 

 and it weighed 12.109 ozs. (345 grammes). 



The root represented in jii/. 5 was of a beau- 

 tiful vermilion-rose colour, aud near the top of a 

 very dark red approaching to purple. Its length 



9.843 inches, its diameter slightly exceeding 2| inches, its weight 



7.09 ozs. 

 Fifl. 9 was blackish-purple veined ; flesh purple, shaded and 



streaked with a deeper colour to a depth of four-tenths of an 



inch, the rest of the flesh white, slightly tinged with purple. 

 Its length was 8.662 inches, its diameter 

 slightly over 2J inches, its weight 5.115 ozs. 

 In the root shown injUi. 10 the skin was 

 of a deep blackish maroon, almost black ; the 

 flesh was milk white, and very delicate. The 

 length was 10.630 inches, the diameter 2.362 

 inches, the weight 3.069 ozs. 



Firi. 11 is a representation of a root with a 

 fine very thin skin of a beautiful rose colour, 

 and very juicy almost melting flesh. Its 

 regularly swelling, much flattened form gave 

 it the appearance of a handsome Kadisb , such 

 as a gardener would pick out for saving seed 

 from. Instead of growing under ground it 

 grew almost on the surface like some kinds of 

 Turnips. Itswhole length was 4.725 inches, 



s'' 



3.— Koot of tho Wild Radish. 



Fig. 4.— Wild Radish improved. 



was 15f inches, its diameter 3.543 inches, its weight 15.696 ozs. 

 It was so like what are known in the trade as the China 

 Kadishes, that if mixed with these it would be impossible to 

 distinguish it. 



The root shown in Jig. 6 was of a dark brick red ; the skin 

 rugose, as if corky, or embroidered ; the form exactly that of a 

 Turnip ; the flesh rose, streaked or veined with red to a depth 

 of four-tenths of an inch, the rest white, slightly tinged with 

 ilesh colour. Its length was 10.23G inches, its diameter 

 5.118 inches, its weight 22.046 ozs. 



Fig. 7 represents a root with a white skin, very smooth and 

 even-surfaced, its appearance like that of a fine, large, well- 

 grown Turnip. Its length was nearly V2{o inches, its diameter 

 nearly 4 inches, its weight 22.963 ozs. 



Fig. 8 was white, purplish near the collar ; its length was 



its diameter half the length, and the form so flattened that the 

 thickness was only 1,"; iuch. The weight was 2.309 ozs. 



The whole of the roots, whatever their colour or form, were 

 succulent, and had a well-marked Kadish flavour, approaching in 

 some to that of the Black Spanish Radish. On careful tasting 

 some appeared to me to have a very slight sugary flavour, with 

 a tendency to approach that of the Turnip. In none, however, 

 was the Turnip flavour appreciable in a raw state, but when 

 they were cooked the case was very different. Then the 

 pungency of the Eadish entirely disappeared, giving place to 

 the Turnip flavour, which, instead of being mild, was very 

 strong. The smell of Turnips was also emitted hy the roots 

 when exposed to the air after having been taken up, and when 

 decaying. The flesh (I am referring to the cooked roots), wag 

 not exactly like that of the Kadish.^being much firmer, hardly 



