St-CT. XV. OF ESCULENTS^ 555 



dishes sown in any of the cold months (being on bor- 

 ders) lay the ground a little sloping to the sun. 



A hot-bed is frequently used for radishes about 

 Christmas, or in January and February, which must 

 not be too warm a one, as it would hurry the seed 

 up, and make them grow all top, and come to no- 

 thing. Two feet thick of dung is sufficient, on which 

 six or seven inches of light well broke or sifted mould 

 should be put on, and the seed immediately sown on 

 the surface, (rather thick) and covered half an inch, 

 giving the whole a gentle pressure ; for seeds will 

 grovr better when the earth is somewhat firm about 

 them. Thin the plants to an inch asunder, before 

 they begin to draw one another up weak; if wider 

 it were better, but room in a hot- bed is precious. 

 Hot bed radishes, under glass, must have plenty of 

 air, for though covered, are not to be shut down 

 close on nights, except severity of frost demand it. 

 In lieu of frames, a hot-bed of radishes may, in Fe- 

 bruary, or after, be hooped, and covered with mats 

 on nights, and in bad weather; and in this way, in- 

 deed, they generally succeed best. Line forward 

 beds, when the heat declines, that they may proceed 

 in growth without check. 



Repeat sowing of radishes every three weeks in 

 spring, and fortnight in summer ; and let it be in 

 cooler ground as the season advances. In dry wea- 

 ther water them. Allow three inches distance to 

 those sown after February, or rather more for the 

 large topped sorts. The turnep kind may now be 

 sown ; yet their best season is to come in after Mi- 

 chaelmas ; the small white and red for summer, and 

 the large white and black for autumn and winter, 

 \vhich will often continue good till spring : In pros- 

 pect of severe weather, some of these may be taken 

 up, and preserved in sand, having first cut the tops 

 off short. 



