256 MANAGEMENT OF THE VARIOUS CROPS. 
Solid beds should be used for radishes, and the house 
should be light and airy. If benches are used, they 
should have no bottom heat (pages 116, I19, 122). 
The soil should be warm and quick, with an ordinary 
amount of sand, and no coarse manure. It should be 
made rich by working old manure thoroughly into it. 
The short radishes will thrive in 4 inches of soil, but bet- 
ter results with most kinds will be obtained in 6 to 8 
inches (pages 116, 122). 
The varieties are many. Amongst those which may 
be commended are Ne Plus Ultra, Roman Carmine, Prus- 
sian Globe, New Rapid Forcing, French Breakfast, New 
Crystal Forcing, and Long Scarlet Short-top. The turnip- 
shaped kinds are usually preferable (pages 120, 124). 
RHUBARB. 
Rhubarb or pie-plant is forced in essentially the same 
manner as asparagus (which see). The roots of mature 
plants are dug in the fall, and they are bedded in hotbeds 
or underneath benches in a cool or intermediate house, 
being covered with 2 to 6 inches of soil (page 134). 
SPINACH. 
Spinach is now rarely forced under glass, because the 
crop can be more cheaply grown in the south. It is 
handled in essentially the same manner that lettuce is 
(page 142). 
TOMATO. 
The tomato is rapidly assuming great importance as a 
commercial forcing crop. It is often profitable even in 
the face of the competition of the early crop from the 
south (page 153). 
For winter crops, the best results are obtained in 
houses which are used primarily for tomato growing, but 
spring crops may be advantageously grown following car- 
