124 RADISH. 



size in from 35 to 40 days, 28 per cent will require 15 

 days longer, while the rest will in all probability never 

 be worth anything. By using only the large seed, 90 per 

 cent of the crop will come in at one time, thus making it 

 possible to pull practically all the crop at once and imme- 

 diately replant. As obtained in the market, about one- 

 third of the seeds are too small to use, and consequently 

 are thrown away. 



Two pounds of seed was screened so as to separate 

 the large from the small seed. In this case there was 

 obtained from the 2 pounds of seed ig% ounces of large 

 seed and 10% of small. The remainder was made up of 

 pieces of gravel and crushed seed, bits of sticks, etc. The 

 seed cost wholesale 60 cents per pound, and if one-third 

 by weight is thrown away it brings the cost up to 80 

 cents per pound. This is a very small matter, however, 

 in view of the many advantages resulting from the use 

 of the large seed. 



For screening the seed we use a sieve made as fol- 

 lows : A circular piece of thin sheet brass 6 inches in di- 

 ameter has holes 2-25 of an inch (2 mm.) in diameter 

 punched or rather cut in it, the holes being about 1-16 of 

 an inch apart. The perforated sheet is then provided 

 with a rim of brass or tin 2 inches high. We have then 

 nothing more than a shallow cup or basin, with numer- 

 ous holes in the bottom. A handful or more of seed is 

 placed in this cup, and a few minutes' shaking will cause 

 all the small seed to drop through the holes, while the 

 large ones which cannot get through remain behind. 



Varieties to plant. In our experience, most of the 

 markets prefer a bright scarlet turnip-shaped root. The 

 pure scarlets always sell better than those tinged with 

 purple, or having white tips. Ne Plus Ultra, Roman Car- 

 mine and Prussian Globe have proved the three best 

 kinds for forcing. We have tried 20 or 25 other varieties, 

 but soon gave them up on account of various undesir- 

 able qualities. 



