RADISH. 261 



When radishes are required early, the seed should 

 be sown in a frame, if there be any to spare, about 

 the end of October, and covered with the lights. 

 The plants usually come up in about a week ; and 

 when they appear, the lights should be lifted or 

 taken off occasionally in favourable weather ; for if 

 once the plants are drawn (which is the cause of the 

 failure of many crops), especially if sown on a slight 

 heat, they seldom make much progress afterwards. 



Should they be too thick when fairly up, a 

 thinning will be necessary to the distance of an 

 inch and a half; then, over the whole, give a light 

 sifting of dry mould ; and by giving air when the 

 weather will permit, and protection from wet and 

 frost, fine young radishes may grace the table at 

 Christmas. 



Where there are no frames to spare, the beds 

 may be covered with mats over hoops, and the sides 

 secured by boards and straw-bands. 



The best radishes for an early principal crop, are 

 the scarlet long-rooted, and the red and white turnip. 

 These should be sown towards the end of January, if 

 the weather permit, in three or four feet beds, not 

 too thick, in some warm sheltered spot in the gar- 

 den, and covered with straw or fern (this last, as 

 before stated, is one of the best of coverings^. admit- 

 ting air at the same time that it protects). After 

 the plants are fairly up, they should be carefully 

 covered at all times when the weather is likely to 

 affect them, and frequently looked at, to see that 

 they are not drawn up. When the crops have got 

 their rough leaf, they should be thinned out, where 

 they are too thick, to the distance of two inches, as 

 s 3 



