TREATMENT OF RADISHES. 125 



Preparing the crop for market. When the crop is 

 ready to market, which will generally be about 40 days 

 from the time of planting, the roots are pulled and tied 

 6 to 8 in a bunch, or 12 to 16, as the market may re- 

 quire. Everything is pulled clean, and when a sufficient 

 number of bunches is obtained they are thrown into a 

 tank, tub or barrel and washed in clean water. Ordinarily 

 there is very little soil adhering to the roots, so that the 

 washing is a comparatively easy matter. Care must be 

 exercised, however, in keeping the water clean, otherwise 

 the radishes will go to market lacking the gloss that 

 helps to sell them. 



As soon as the plants are pulled the ground should 

 immediately be forked over, smoothed, and planted, as al- 

 ready described. Following the foregoing plan, the first 

 crop will be ready for market about Thanksgiving, the 

 second crop January 5 to 10, the third crop the last week 

 in February, and the fourth crop the first week in April. 

 After this the house will pay better planted to cucumbers, 

 which should by this time be in 6 or 8 inch pots. 



Approximate yields per square foot. A square foot of 

 ground should yield on an average 16 bunches of rad- 

 ishes, 6 to 8 in a bunch, in the period extending from 

 October 15 to April 10. The price will average 2 cents 

 per bunch, making the returns 32 cents per square foot. 



Temperature, moisture, insects and diseases. The rad- 

 ish cannot be pushed by heat. A night temperature of 

 45 to 50, with 20 to 25 more during the day, is about 

 right. If too much bottom heat is given the plant will 

 run to top. Watering should be carefully done, and in 

 no case should the soil be allowed to become dry enough 

 for the plants to wilt. In such cases a heavy watering 

 is likely to cause the radishes to crack, thus rendering 

 them unfit for market. 



Insects and diseases cause very little trouble. Green- 

 fly sometimes proves difficult to manage, but a light fumi- 

 gation every two weeks with tobacco stems will keep the 



