392 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



and leaves it to its own devices, careless, perhaps, whether it 

 produces a shapely, serviceable stick, suitable for culinary pur- 

 poses, or not. 



Diagram 70 provides a few hints which may indicate what 

 has hitherto been a very common cause of failure, and what are 

 the methods to be employed to ensure satisfactory results. It is 

 true that a piece of horseradish root of any shape or size will 

 " strike," but in order to produce good thick sticks it is advisable 

 to use for planting purposes crowns such as that indicated in 

 Figure 1. Crowns prepared in this manner can be obtained very 

 cheaply from any nurseryman. They should be trimmed so 

 that all side growths are removed. Such a projection as that 

 shown in Figure 2, for example, should be taken off. 



Ground intended for the reception of the crowns will need to have 

 been deeply dug previously, and the planting should proceed as de- 

 picted in Figure 3. First a hole, at least ten inches in depth, should 

 be made with a dibbler. The crown must then be inserted in the 

 cavity in such a manner that it rests firmly on the bottom. Now 

 comes a point in culture which can be left to the individual dis- 

 crimination of the grower. If the soil be fairly light there is no 

 necessity to fill in the holes. If left alone they will be gradually 

 filled as the rain washes loose surface soil into the cavity. The 

 crown will soon take root, and will proceed to make its way to- 

 wards the surface, its growth being even and symmetrical. The 

 root will gradually thicken, and by autumn will be ready for use. 

 Where the ground is at all heavy, the hole after planting had better 

 be filled with fine soil. 



The secret of successful horseradish culture, it will be seen, is 

 deep planting. The results of shallow planting are shown in 

 Figure 4 ; these are a few attenuated forked roots, absolutely useless 

 for any culinary purpose, and a great wealth of foliage. 



When the crop is ripe the whole of it should be dug up in the late 

 autumn and stored ready for use. It is necessary to see that not 

 the smallest piece of root is left hi the ground, otherwise it may 

 run wild and become a nuisance and a hindrance to other crops 

 which it may be desired to grow in the same piece of ground. 



