622 KEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Kadish {Baphamis sativus). 



The radish is rarely cultivated for the Northern markets south ol 

 aSTorfolk in consequence of losing its acceptable crispness by wilting. 

 • The variety used is principally the Long Scarlet Short Top, sown 

 at auy time the season admits there from Christmas to the last of Feb- 

 ruary. It delights in a light mellow soil, in which the manure should 

 be deeply plowed under. The field being plowed in narrow lands and 

 well harrowed, the seed are sown broadcast at the rate of 12 pounds to 

 the acre and covered with a light harrow. 



The radishes are pulled in March, bunched, and packed tightly in 

 barrels, the leaves being cut off half their length. A barrel holds from 

 200 to 300 bunches, and sells sometimes as high as 88, but the price 

 generally ranges low. In very warm weather a lumx) of ice may be 

 placed in the middle of the barrel. 



Spinach {Spinacia oleracea). 



Spinach is another vegetable whose cultivation is confined to Norfolk, 

 longer transportation wilting and heating it during transit. 



The variety used is the American Imi)roved Curled Savoy. 



The seed is sown from September 10 to October 15 in drills 30 inches 

 apart, requiring 10 to 12 pounds to the acre. As with all other plants 

 the leaves of which are used it requires very heavy manuring. After 

 applying at planting time a liberal amount of stable manure some of 

 the farmers add in winter a top dressing of a ton of Peruvian guano. 



Occasionally spinach pays well, having sold as high as $10 per 

 barrel, but it costs the best farmers 8150 -per acre to raise it. When 

 the manuring has been very high the rows are made sometimes only 18 

 inches apart, and the plants are thinned to a stand of from 6 to 8 inches. 

 The croj) is marketed in March, packed tightly in ventilated barrels. 



The Squash {CucurMta verrucosa). 



At the stage of maturity in which the squash is picked for Northern 

 shipments it bears transportation remarkably well, but it never com- 

 mands high prices and frequently a part of the product remains unsold. 



The varieties are the Early "White Scallop Bush and the Early 

 Summer Crook-neck." The latter is the superior in quality, but the 

 former is preferred, as it packs and bears transportation better. It is 

 planted in the latitude of Savannah about the last of February to mid- 

 dle of March. This crop requires a light warm soil and liberal manur- 

 ing. It is usually manured and planted in hills 4 or 5 feet each way. 

 As in the case of the cucumber several sowings should be made to in- 

 sure a stand of 2 plants to each hill. The cultivation is the same as that 

 of the cucumber. 



When ready -for market the rind should still be penetrable by the 

 Gnger nail, but not as soft and green as usually picked for local soutli- 

 ern consumption. The White Scallop variety should be glossy white, 

 instead of having a greenish cast, and have nearly attained full growth, 

 otherwise they would bruise and turn black in transit. 



Squashes may be shipped in double-headed barrels or in crates, but 

 must be carefully packed in either. 



Tlie insects infesting the squash-plant at the South are, besides the 

 Striped-bug already named, (1) the Twelve-spotted Squash-beetle {Bia- 

 hrotica 12-punctata) ; (2) the Squash-bug {Anasa tristis) ; (3) the 



