258 VEGETABLE FORCING 



quite small. Ordinarily, they are not sold until they are 

 at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Market 

 requirements should also have consideration. 



Ill-shaped roots should be discarded. When the final 

 pulling is made on a given area, there may be some very 

 small roots, which should be thrown away or packed and 

 sold separately. 



Five radishes in each bunch is probably the most com- 

 mon number. If the roots are very small, it may be 

 necessary to tie six or seven in a bunch in order to meet 

 the requirement of the market to be supplied. Some 

 growers put 10 to 12 in a bunch, and then sell at prices 

 proportionally high. This saves labor in tying, washing 

 and packing. 



Raffia is commonly used for tying, though many 

 growers use light cotton twine. The radishes are im- 

 proved in appearance by clipping off the slender tips of 

 the roots, which also saves time in washing. Holding 

 the tied bunches in running water under a spigot may 

 clean the roots sufficiently for market ; but if they have 

 been grown in clay soil, the use of a scrubbing brush will 

 be necessary to remove the finer particles of soil. 



The radishes may be packed in baskets and shallow 

 crates of various kinds. Half-bushel splint baskets are 

 highly satisfactory. They hold from eight to ten dozen 

 bunches. If the inside of the baskets is lined with two 

 or three thicknesses of paper, and the baskets, after the 

 radishes are packed, are securely wrapped with paper 

 and tied, it will be possible to ship the roots in severe 

 winter weather. 



Yields and returns. About two dozen good radishes 

 should be grown on each square foot of ground. In other 

 words, about five bunches should be produced to the 

 square foot. The prices are so variable in different mar- 

 kets and at different seasons of the year that it is im- 

 possible to give figures relating to returns which are of 



