108 buist's family kitchen gardener. 



or eight ounces of lladish seed to supply a family fully tlie 

 whole season^ though some writers amuse us by saying an 

 ounce or two is enough. They must never have sown an ounce 

 of Radish seed and seen its produce. If the weather is dry, 

 at any of the sowings, the seed should have a few waterings, 

 till it is fairly above ground ; and even when they are growing, 

 it is of much service in rendering the roots more crisp and 

 better flavored. 



Forcing Radishes. — Yery little artificial heat is required 

 to grow them in perfection. Make a gentle hot-bed about 

 eighteen inches thick, on which place a frame. Fill in one 

 foot of good, light, rich soil. After it remains a few days, to 

 get warm throughout, sow the seeds rather thickly. Spread a 

 small portion of fine soil over them ; give the whole a gentle 

 press with the back of the spade ; put on the sash, and keep 

 close till the seeds appear above ground ; then air freely. If 

 the plants are thick, thin them out at once to about an inch 

 apart ; water occasionally when the soil appears to get dry. 

 If sashes are not to be obtained, shutters and mats make a 

 tolerable substitute, and after the first of March, will do per- 

 fectly, though forcing early crops cannot succeed without the 

 use of good glass sash. The best variety of Radish for the 

 purpose is the Long Scarlet Early Short-top, or a variety of 

 it called Ea^ly Frame. We have already alluded to the prac- 

 tice of sowing Radishes among the Cauliflower and Winter 

 Lettuce. 



Radishes so\vn for Seed should be kept apart from any 

 other variety. If they are within three hundred yards of each 

 other, they will mix. Where the Early Scarlet is wished very 

 pure, it is our practice to transplant a few thousand every 

 season to seed for early forcing. If it cannot be kept so far 

 apart, save the seeds of two kinds every year, for three years; 

 you will then have six sorts in culture, and the seed will keep 

 three years perfectly, if in a dry place. 



