78 MARKET GARDENING 



a corner, or beside a fence out of the way, where it is allowed 

 to grow at will. 



Planting. Commercially, this crop is grown quite ex- 

 tensively in some sections. The method of propogation is 

 to plant the small side roots with a dibble. Any piece of 

 root, an inch or more long, will produce a plant and root of 

 good size. The most desirable size root for planting is a 

 piece the size of a lead pencil, four to six inches long. 



Horse-radish may be grown as a main or as a companion 

 crop. When grown as a main crop, the roots are set in rows 

 twenty-four to thirty inches apart, and the roots set ten to 

 twelve inches apart in the row. Horse-radish and early 

 cabbage make excellent companions and are largely so grown 

 in the Eastern states. The cabbage and horse-radish being 

 set alternately in the row, the cabbages mature and are out 

 of the way so that the horse-radish has the land to itself 

 during the latter part of the season. 



Harvesting and Marketing. The roots are ploughed 

 out in the fall and the tops are trimmed off. The roots are 

 then buried in moist sand to await manufacture into sauce. 

 The larger roots are ground up, the smaller roots being 

 saved for propogation. Some growers sell the roots while 

 others grind up the roots and bottle the product. The 

 market is limited for horse-radish, but, in favorable locations, 

 it is a profitable crop. The yield varies from three to five 

 or six tons per acre and the price varies largely with the 

 season, the quality of the roots and the demand for them. 



XII. LETTUCE 



Soil. Lettuce may be grown successfully in most 

 soils, if well supplied with rotted manure and liberally 

 fertilized with high grade, chemical fertilizers. Light sandy 



