492 VILLA GARDENING part v 



the Dandelions will become an annoyance in the garden, from the 

 scattered seeds. In autumn the roots can be lifted and potted, or 

 planted in a warm dark jilace such as the j\Iushroom-house. The 

 Dandelion is a valuable salad plant, that would be better appre- 

 ciated if not so common, and from a medicinal point of view it is 

 valuable. The late supply may be blanched in the open ground 

 by covering the bed with sifted aslies or old tan. 



Lamb's Lettuce, or Corn Salad. — Though not much grown 

 in this country, this makes a useful addition to salad plants, especi- 

 ally in winter and spring. In summer, when there are plenty of 

 Lettuces, it would not be so much called for. It should be sown 

 in August, September, and October for winter and spring use, and 

 again in March and April for summer. Sow in beds broadcast, 

 lightly raked in. Unless sown tlnckly not much thinning will be 

 required, as the largest plants may be cut first and the smaller 

 left to grow on. 



CHAPTER XXV 



Radishes. — If desired, Radishes may l)e had nearly all the 

 year round. Make the first sowing in a hotbed in Janu- 

 aiy. Where much vegetable forcing is done the crop is fre- 

 quently worked in with other things, such as Horn Carrots, 

 Potatoes, Lettuces, etc. The Radishes germinate and turn in 

 quickly, are cleared oft", and the whole space is left for the other 

 crops just at the time they need it. At the time this sowing is 

 made luider glass, a bed is sowti in the open air on the early 

 border and covered with a sprinkling of straw. This covering 

 keeps off birds, shelters from cold, and forwards the germination 

 of the seeds by keeping the soil even in temperature and moisture. 

 As soon as the plants appear the straw must be taken off a few 

 hours every day and replaced again at night until the plants are 

 hardened enough to bear full exposure. If a regidar succession 

 of Radishes is required, make fortnightly sowings from March till 

 the end of September. The early sowings should be Wood's frame, 

 but from April through the summer and autumn sow Frencli 

 breakfast and the red and white Turnip Radish. The black 

 Spanish is sometimes sown for winter because of its hardiness. 

 For summer use sow on cool shady borders, and make the soil 

 rich. We have some beds of rich loam and leaf-mould that we use 

 in spring to prick bedding and other plants on, and after these are 

 cleared the beds come in for Radishes and other things which may 

 require rather better treatment than can be given in the ordinary 

 soil of the gardens. Unless Radishes be grown quickly, and are 



