2896 



RADICULA 



RADISH 



much used for garnishing and for salads. See Cress. 

 In the tropics Nasturtium indicum, DC. (see Roripa), 

 is a desirable cress. This is an erect annual, with 

 yellow fls. and deeply pinnatifid (rarely entire) radi- 

 cal Ivs. It is said to have been cult, in Europe, but 

 it is probably useless or at least unnecessary outside 

 the tropics. L H. B. 



RADISH (Latin, radix, a root). A name applied to 

 certain forms or species of Raphanus (of the family 

 Cruciferae), particularly to the kinds that produce 

 thickened edible roots; these roots are eaten raw, 

 except some persons cook the large summer and whiter 

 kinds. See Raphanus. 



The radish is variable in size, shape, color, and con- 

 sistency of root and in season of maturity. Varieties 

 may be classified as spring, summer, and whiter radishes ; 

 or as globular, half-long, and long radishes; or as red, 

 white, gray, and black radishes. Figs. 3331-3333 show 

 some of the forms. 



The origin and nativity of the radish are questions 

 of dispute. For geographical reasons, it is supposed 

 that the radish is wild in temperate Asia, probably in 

 the oriental part, although truly indigenous radishes 

 are doubtfully known. Not infrequently the radish runs 

 wild about gardens, and in that case the root soon 

 deteriorates into a small slender woody and more or 

 less fibrous member. It has been thought by some that 

 the radish is only a modified form of the wild charlock, 

 or Raphanus Raphanistrum. In fact, experiments were 

 made on the charlock by Carriere, who was able in a 

 few years to produce edible radishes from the wild 

 plant (cf. Cyclo. Amer. Hort. IV: 1487). While these 

 investigations seem to be conclusive that the radish can 

 be produced from the charlock, they nevertheless do not 

 prove that such was the actual origin of the garden 

 radish. DeCandolle, whilst accepting Carriere's ex- 

 periments, was unable to understand how the radishes 

 of India, China, and Japan could have originated from 

 the charlock, since that plant is unknown in those 

 countries and the radish has been grown there for cen- 

 turies. It is possible that the radish was carried east- 

 ward from western Asia and Europe, but such has not 

 been the general course of the migration of plants. It is 

 possible that the radishes of the Orient are a different 



3332. Half-Long Scarlet radish. (XJi) 



species from those in Europe, although they are gen- 

 erally regarded as the same species. Recent experi- 

 ments hi France (Yvonne Trouard-Riolle, "Recherches 

 morphologiques et biologiques sur les radis cultiv^s." 

 Nancy, 1914) indicate that the cultivated radish has 

 not been derived from R. Raphanistrum by cultivation, 

 but that R. sativus is specifically distinct although little 

 known as a wild plant. It is supposed that the Japanese 

 radish is derived from one aboriginal form of R. sativus 

 which is native of China and Japan, and that the Euro- 

 pean radishes have come from another aboriginal form. 



The summer and winter radishes are not popular in 

 this country unless among those of recent foreign 

 origin. The winter radishes hi particular are little 

 grown. These are late-maturing lands, requiring more of 

 the season for growth, and of such large size and firm 

 flesh that they keep well, as turnips are kept. The 

 summer and winter radishes require no special treat- 

 ment, except that plans must be made to allow them a 

 longer period. In eastern Asia are singular kinds of 

 radish that are little known here. In North America, 

 the small spring radishes comprise practically the 

 range of general cultivation. 



The rat-tail radish, Fig. 3346, is grown for its much- 

 developed soft pods, which may be used as are radishes 

 and in the making of pickles. It is rarely grown hi 

 American gardens, although it is well worth raising as a 

 curiosity. It is annual, and its cultivation presents no 

 difficulties. There is also a fleshy podded radish of 

 parts of India, with the edible pods short and soft. 



The radish is one of the most popular of garden 

 vegetables. It is of quick growth, and the product is 

 secured at the time of the year when fresh vegetables 

 are in demand. In order that radishes may be of the 

 best quality, they should have made a rapid growth. 

 The soil should be rich, light and loose, one that 

 drains readily and does not bake with heavy rains. 

 Radishes fit for the table may be had in three to six 

 weeks from the sowing, depending on the variety and 

 the "quickness" of the soil. They are often grown as a 

 catch-crop with other vegetables. They may be sown 

 in the rows with early beets, peas or other crops, and 

 they are usually mature enough for use before they 

 seriously interfere with the main crop. Sometimes 

 seeds of radishes are sown in the rows of slow-germina- 

 ting plants, as carrots and parsnips, in order that the 

 seedlings may mark the row and thereby facilitate 

 tillage. Many of the radishes, in such cases, may be 

 allowed to remain long enough to produce an edible 

 tuber. 



Aside from the root-maggot, the radish is relatively 

 free from insects and diseases. When the root-maggot 

 appears in any place, it is usually best to discon- 

 tinue the growing of radishes in that area for two or 

 three years, until the insects have been starved out. 

 The maggots may be killed by an injection of bisulfide 

 of carbon into the earth about the plants; but 

 this is usually more expense than the product is 

 worth. Carbolic acid emulsion may also be used. 

 Early radishes may be grown in hotbeds or cold- 

 frames with the greatest ease, and in these 

 places they are usually less subject to the attacks 

 of the cabbage maggot, since the crop is matured 

 hi advance of the maggot season. 



Radishes are readily forced in the winter 

 months. It is necessary that the house be light. 

 The soil should be a sandy loam, free from silt 

 and clay. It is best to grow radishes in solid 

 beds rather than on benches. They thrive best 

 in a low temperature. The temperature during 

 the day should not exceed 65 to 75 in the 

 shade, and at night it may drop to 45 to 50. 

 If the temperature is too nigh, and particularly 

 if the beds are given bottom heat, the plants 

 tend to run to top rather than to root. The 

 seed is usually sown in rows from 5 to 8 inches 

 apart, and they are thinned in the row until they 

 stand 2 or 3 inches apart. In order that the crop shall 

 be uniform and mature simultaneously, it is advis- 

 able either to sift the seed or to transplant the young 

 radishes. Galloway has found by experiment that 

 radish seeds A inch in diameter are too small to give 

 a satisfactory and uniform crop. He therefore advises 

 that seeds be run through sieves with a mesh of that 

 diameter in order to separate the small specimens. In a 

 certain experiment, he secured from two pounds of 

 commercial seed nineteen and one-half ounces of large 



