OXALIS ROOT, 193 



radishes under frames, aiding vegetation by a slight bottom- 

 heat. As the season advances, successional supplies are 

 sown once a fortnight. From the middle of July to the 

 middle of September the turnip-radishes are sown from 

 time to time ; and on the approach of frost they may be 

 stored up in sand, and kept throughout winter. 



OXALIS ROOTS ( Oxalis creriata, JACQ ; O, arracacho,, 

 (jr. DON) have of late years been cultivated for the table 

 in England. The plant produces tubers at the root, some- 

 what in the manner of the potato ^ but they are of smaller 

 size, seldom exceeding that of a walnut. By cultivation, 

 however, by manuring, laying down, earthing up, watering, 

 and other helps known to horticulturists, considerable in- 

 crease of size in the tubers may be effected. From the 

 mode of culture adopted by the most intelligent gardeners, 

 we conclude that a rich light soil is the most proper ; that 

 it is useful to forward the plants in a hot bed, in the way 

 practiced with early peas, so as to have them ready to 

 transplant by the middle or end of May ; that in planting 

 out they should be inserted in a sloping position, so that a 

 considerable portion of the stem may be covered by the 

 soil ; that earthing up, or drawing up additional soil to the 

 stems in June and July is important ; and that laying 

 down the stems horizontally in August, and covering them 

 slightly (to the depth perhaps of two inches) with mould, 

 tends greatly to promote their productiveness. It should 

 be observed that , the tubers continue to swell in size till 

 November, or till stopped by frost. It is believed that the 

 largest tubers, having full eyes or buds, yield the strongest 

 plants ; and, therefore, a portion of the largest should be 

 reserved for seed-stock. Cut sets of these large tubers are, 

 by some cultivators, preferred to whole tubers. The rest, 



