LECT. VII 



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 



109 



Q. Have you not forgotten radishes ? If they can sell for 30 

 or 40 an acre we should like to know a little more about them 

 and the varieties. 



A. The prices named are not in the least uncommon in very 

 rich, deep, dark soil. Crops are frequently sold for 50 and 

 upwards in the Vale of Evesham, and an acre has realized 100, 

 but that is exceptional, though worthy of record. Too thick 

 sowing ruins the crops. The seed leaves (page 46) must have 

 space to develop for the quick production of roots, and the plants 

 must be sheltered, as stated in the Lecture. The work takes 

 time, but it pays when properly done. An ounce of seed is 



FIG. 27. RADISHES PROFIT AND Loss. 



Thin sowing and fine roots; thick sowing and useless roots a waste of 

 seed and soil fertility. 



ample for five square yards. The varieties grown are the long 

 red, red and white turnip rooted, chiefly the red, and the oval 

 shaped French Breakfast varieties. It may be added that if 

 radish and other seeds are made damp with petroleum, such as 

 is burned in lamps, and dusted with red lead they are rendered 

 distasteful to birds and mice and not injured by the dressing. 



Q. Just one question about pruning fruit bushes. Is summer 

 pruning really better than winter pruning, and when should it 

 be done ? 



A. If the main branches of gooseberry and currant bushes 

 are too close together, producing a thicket of growths, and the 



