330 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



HORSE-RADISH. 



Horse-radish is a popular relish in California and is 

 bottled on quite a large scale. The plant is easily grown 

 and should be found in every farm garden. A start is 

 most conveniently made by planting root sets. Mr. Ira 

 W. Adams advises planting the roots or sets in rows two 

 feet apart with the sets one foot apart in the rows, and 

 three or four inches under the surface. On rich, moist 

 soil, with the best of cultivation, one can raise roots that 

 will weigh from one-half to three-quarters of a pound. 

 When the roots are dug in winter for use, break off all the 

 small rootlets from one-quarter to one-half inch in diam- 

 eter, cut into pieces from three to five inches long, leaving 

 the top end square, and the bottom end slanting, so there 

 will be no mistake in planting them upside down. Tie in 

 small bunches and put into moist sand that has perfect 

 drainage and is exposed to the weather. In very cold, 

 long, heavy rains it is well to cover with shakes, or short 

 pieces of boards. A cool cellar is a good place to store 

 them, but be careful that the sand is never allowed to get 

 dry, as the sets will not root nicely without continual 

 moisture. Early in the spring there will be nicely rooted 

 sets ready for transplanting, as before described. 



