Radish 



ground are attractive in appearance, delicate in flavour, and as 

 digestible as any salad in common use. It should be understood 

 that earliness is of the very first importance, and that large Radishes 

 are never wanted. To insure a quick growth and a handsome sample 

 the ground must not only be good, but finely broken up. 



For the earliest crops it is advisable to make a semi -hot-bed, by 

 removing a portion of the surface soil, and laying down about two- 

 feet depth of half-rotten stable manure, on which spread four inches of 

 fine earth, and then cover with old frames. Sow the seed thinly, and 

 put on the lights. When the plants appear, give air at every oppor- 

 tunity to keep the growth dwarf and stout, and cover with mats 

 during frost, always taking care to uncover as often as possible to 

 give light, for if the tops are drawn the roots will be worthless. 

 Where the plants are crowded thin them, allowing every plant just 

 room enough to spread out its top without overlapping its neighbour. 

 Sowings made in this way in December, January, and February will 

 supply an abundance of beautiful Radishes in early spring, when they 

 are greatly valued. The second crop (which in many gardens will 

 be the first) may be sown on warm, dry borders in February. Within 

 a few days after sowing, collect a quantity of dry litter, and lay it 

 up ready for use in a shed. It happens often that we have warm, 

 bright weather in February, and the Radishes start quickly and make 

 good progress, and then may come a severe frost, when the litter 

 must be spread as lightly as possible, three or four inches thick. 

 These open-ground sowings will bear cold well, but they should 

 not be allowed to get frozen, and therefore semi-hot-beds may be 

 employed. If time and materials appear excessive for such a pur- 

 pose, it should be remembered that this is a capital way of preparing 

 for the next crop, whatever it may be, and is a particularly good 

 method of preparing for Peas that are to be sown in the month 

 of April, by which time the earliest sown Radishes will be off the 

 ground. 



Successive sowings should be made in the coolest place that can 

 be found for them, and the usual practice of four-feet beds will 

 answer very well. In many gardens sufficient supplies of Radishes 

 are obtained by sowing in the alleys between seed-beds, but care 

 must be taken that this plan does not interfere with the proper work 

 of hoeing, weeding, thinning, &c. When seed is sown on light soils 

 a moderate firming with the back of the spade may be desirable, but 

 generally speaking it is sufficient to cover the seed lightly, and so 

 leave it. To thin the crop early is. however, of great importance, no 



113 i 



