Commercial Gardening 



over the bed; of course half the bed was covered at each cast. The first 

 sowings were usually of the Long Red variety (fig. 488), which is hardier 

 and comes on more quickly than the Turnip variety, this latter being sown 

 after a sowing or two of the Long variety. 



The growing of littered Radishes has been spoken of as a thing of 

 the past, because at one time it was so general, especially near London, 

 and now one hardly ever sees it. Individual growers in specially favour- 

 able situations may continue the practice. Probably the growth of 



Radishes as a catch crop in cold houses 

 used for Tomato culture has done a 

 good deal to render littered Radishes 

 unprofitable, and perhaps the driving 

 of market gardeners farther away from 

 the markets, and the consequent added 

 difficulty of getting the litter, has done 

 the rest. 



Radishes are still grown in beds as 

 described above, particularly for the 

 earliest sowings, which can be com- 

 menced in March if the weather is 

 favourable, choice being made of the 

 warmest and most sheltered spot avail- 

 able. Later sowings are now usually 

 made either broadcast with the fiddle 

 or in drills. It takes 3 to 4 bus. of 

 seed to sow an acre. 



The labour of bird scaring can be 

 considerably minimized by dressing the 

 seed a few days before sowing with 

 red-lead powder and paraffin. If the 

 red lead is shaken over the seed on the 

 barn floor, and then paraffin sprinkled 

 over it, and, after, all turned once or 

 twice with a shovel, every seed will be 

 found to be coated with red lead. If 

 left for two or three days it will dry. A few pounds of red lead and 

 J pt. of paraffin will do more than 1 bus. of seed. 



Many sow Wood's Frame, which is a modified form of the old Long 

 Radish, for the first sowing; then mixed Turnip in the proportion of 

 one white to five red. The white-tipped variety called French Breakfast 

 can be sown about the middle of March. This matures very rapidly, 

 and requires great watchfulness to get it to market before it becomes 

 " pithy ". Sowings of Radishes can be made regularly up to the end 

 of June, suspended during July and August, recommenced in September, 

 when two more sowings may be made. 



Radishes are sent to market in the form of bunches. Binding them 



Fig. 488. Radish -"Long Red' 



