The above remarks seem to show the necessity of thin- 

 ning plants properly if the finest and most tender radishes 

 are wanted. Thinning allows light and air to enter freely 

 to all portions of the plants above ground, and the condi- 

 tions are consequently favorable to rapid growth. 



A moderately moist atmosphere appears to be favor- 

 able to the strong and quick development of radishes. 

 When this crop is forced in hotbeds, the sash are neces- 

 sarily lowered at times, and a confined air surrounds the 

 plants, frequently for considerable periods. They appear 

 to thrive under such treatment, and it is desirable to pro- 

 duce the same condition when growing the plants in 

 greenhouses. 



It is rare that the soil in a hotbed is more than 12 or 

 15 inches from the glass. This allows an abundance of 

 light to reach the plants. The benches in a forcing-house 

 cannot be so favorably placed in all their parts, and the 

 best way of correcting the fault is to use large glass and 

 a light framework in the roof. Under such conditions 

 the plants will frequently do fairly well 8 or 10 feet from 

 the glass. But with a light roof, the panes being at least 

 12x14 inches, the conditions approach more nearly those 

 existing out of doors, and this explains the fact that the 

 plants do not become drawn or "leggy." 



Varieties. There are a great many varieties of rad- 

 ishes ; they differ mostly in form, color, and time of ma- 

 turity. Those which mature rapidly are the ones most 

 commonly forced, and a greater number of crops may be 

 removed in a given time. Several mature, under favor- 

 able conditions, about three weeks from the time of seed 

 sowing. These are nearly all red in color, and mostly of 

 a spherical or olive form. The following may be recom- 

 mended : Ne Plus Ultra, New Rapid Forcing, Extra 

 Early Carmine Olive-shaped, Earliest Carmine Turnip, 

 Early Scarlet Globe, Twenty-day Forcing, Earliest White, 

 New White Forcing. 



Among the best of those which mature about a week 



