RADISH . 247 



Beds vs. benches. The radish is forced both on raised 

 benches and in ground beds. Most growers prefer 

 ground beds. The winter crop may be matured on raised 

 benches with bottom heat in from one to two weeks less 

 time than on ground beds. If there are heating pipes 

 under the benches, great care must be exercised to avoid 

 forcing the crop too rapidly, as excessive top growth will 

 be encouraged at the sacrifice of good roots. The regu- 

 lation of temperatures and soil moisture will require less 

 attention if ground beds are used. On the other hand, 

 the space under benches, if heating pipes are located 

 elsewhere, may be profitably used in forcing rhubarb 

 and asparagus, and with the saving of time for each lot 

 of radishes it is possible to grow an additional crop 

 before planting the benches in the spring with tomatoes 

 or cucumbers. 



Varieties. The large varieties which are commonly 

 grown out of doors are not desirable for forcing. Most 

 consumers prefer the small, turnip-shaped roots, and 

 these attain a marketable size in much less time than the 

 long-rooted sorts. The early turnip-shaped varieties 

 may also be grown much closer together, and this is a 

 decided advantage in obtaining maximum profits. The 

 best strains of forcing varieties have very small tops, so 

 that the rows need not be more than 4 inches apart and 

 the roots may stand very close together in the rows. 



The color of forced radishes is an important factor. 

 As a rule, the markets prefer bright red rather than dark 

 red roots. Some markets can dispose of a considerable 

 quantity of white-tipped sorts. The olive-shaped varie- 

 ties are often grown in frames. 



The quality of the different varieties should also be 

 considered. Icicle, a well-known white variety, is of very 

 high quality, and though the color is unfavorable for 

 winter sales, the demand for this variety is increasing. 



Most commercial growers of large experience prefer 



