122 KITCHEN-GARDENING 



should not be in good condition to receive the seed at this time, 

 let it be delayed a few days ; and by the first of April have 

 another bed prepared in the open ground, by working in some 

 strong well rotted manure. The seed may be sown broadcast, 

 and raked in evenly, or in drills drawn about one inch deep, 

 and a foot apart. 



If you wish to have Radishes in regular succession, sow seed 

 of the most esteemed varieties every two weeks, until the 

 middle of June. If any be sown after this, it should be the 

 seed of those that will endure the heat better than the others, 

 and may be sown in drills, in small quantities, throughout the 

 summer until the latter part of August, when all the varieties 

 may be sown in regular succession till the first of October. 



Radishes must have a sandy or loamy soil. It is folly to 

 attempt to raise them on heavy soils, even when such ground 

 is extremely rich. For family use, a load or two of sand may 

 be mingled with a small area of ground in a warm corner of the 

 garden, and made fertile with rich liquid manure a few weeks 

 or more before the seed is planted. A shield on the north 

 side of the bed, made of boards nailed to stakes four or more 

 feet high driven in the ground temporarily, will break off the 

 cold wind, reflect the warm sunshine on the bed, and make the 

 Radishes grow long before other plants appear. In order to 

 have excellent Radishes, save and plant only the largest, earliest, 

 and fairest seed. 



It may be necessary here to remind the gardener of the neces- 

 sity of sowing tobacco-dust, soot, ashes, etc., over his seed-beds, 

 in hot, dry weather, or he will find it difficult to raise Radishes 

 in unpropitious seasons. 



FORWARDING RADISHES. 



Radishes may be obtained early in the spring by means of 

 a moderate hotbed. The earth in the frames should be a foot 

 in depth, and air should be admitted every day after they are 

 up, or they will incline more to tops than roots. If they come 



