VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



advisable ; it is likely to cause forking of the root. This is overcome by 

 planting after such crops as celery, cabbage, &c., which have previously 

 received liberal applications of manure. 



Moisture and warmth are essential, and on heavy soils the beds should be 

 raised to ensure proper drainage. 



Unless the crop is grown quickly, the roots will become pithy and hot, and 

 in order to ensure even growth the young seedlings should be thinned out. 

 Many people never bother to thin radish, allowing the crop to grow as it 

 germinates, considering the pulling out of roots when 'big enough for use as 

 sufficient thinning. By this method some roots occupy the ground for a long 

 time, and become of inferior quality. 



Radishes are of several shapes and may be classified as { ' turnip," " olive " 

 or " intermediate " and " long. 7 ' Of the turnip-shaped varieties, the following 

 may be recommended : French Breakfast, Red, White. These varieties are 

 not as largely grown in this State as the longer sorts. 



Of the olive-shaped or intermediate class, Rose is a good variety. Of the 

 long varieties, Long Scarlet may be mentioned as long and slender, smooth- 

 skinned, good colour, and having a very transparent flesh, tinged with pink. 

 It grows from 5 to 6 inches in length. Another long variety, used only for 

 autumn sowing is White Chinese, a very large cylindrical-shaped radish of 

 mild flavour. 



Diseases and Pests. In general this vegetable is subject to the same 

 attacks as the turnip ; for list, see page 90. 



RHUBARB. 



Rhubarb is a perennial plant producing thick, acidy stems of commercial 

 value. It requires rich soil or heavy manuring with organic matter, such as 

 stable manure. It is essential that the root crowns be fully formed before 

 large pullings of the leaves are made. Many people make the mistake of 

 drawing on the plant almost as soon as any large leaves have formed. As 

 with asparagus, this treatment does not allow of the development of the 

 plant, and consequently large yields cannot be expected for any length of 

 time. 



For planting out, the roots of older plants may be divided and set care 

 being taken that each root-piece contains a bud or crown or one-year-old 

 roots may be used. These can be purchased from any seed merchant, or the 

 plants may be raised from seed. The latter method takes a year longer in 

 establishing the plantation, but it is the cheaper of the two. If this method 

 is adopted, the seed should be sown in the spring in prepared seed-beds. 



The plants should be set out 4 feet apart each way, or even more. Unless 

 the soil is naturally rich, such as is found on alluvial flats adjoining a 

 river, the places^in the field where the plants are to be set should have been 



