SHORT SEASON ROOT CROPS 103 



Mustard is sometimes used for greens in place of spinach. It 

 is of easy culture and thrives on almost any soil, provided it is 

 rich and moist. Cool weather is essential to a large development 

 of foliage before seed stalk formation begins. Seed should be 

 sown very early in spring, either in drills or broadcast, and the 

 crop gathered as soon as the leaves are large enough to use. The 

 entire plant may be pulled or individual leaves plucked off. The 

 crop is one of quick development but also of short duration, for 

 the plants soon run to seed. 



Mustard may be used for salad as well as for greens, though 

 the latter is its principal use. There are improved, large-leaved 

 types which produce an enormous amount of foliage in a very 

 short time. Mustard is not as fully appreciated in American 

 gardens or American markets as its merits warrant. In many 

 markets it is unknown, and attempts to introduce it have often 

 been futile. 



SHORT SEASON ROOT CROPS 



Radishes are of three distinct types: Spring, summer and 

 winter. All are cool season crops, but some will endure more heat 

 than others. The summer radish will complete its development 

 under moderately high temperature provided it has made a good 

 start in cool weather, while the winter radish must have cool 

 weather at the finish though it starts its growth in the hot 

 weather of July or August. 



In this country, the spring type of radish is very much more 

 extensively grown than either of the other types. The earliest 

 varieties will furnish an edible product in from four to six weeks 

 from the planting of the seed, the exact length of time depending 

 primarily upon the temperature. Fairly cool weather is required, 

 but too low a temperature retards the growth. The roots of the 

 earliest varieties remain in edible condition only a few days; 

 then they become pithy. Later varieties of spring radishes 

 remain in edible condition a somewhat longer time, but even 

 these must be gathered promptly or they will suffer in point 

 of quality. 



Spring radishes (Fig. 56) should be planted at the very opening 

 of spring and successive plantings made at intervals of ten days 

 or two weeks. This may be continued till about the middle of 

 May in latitudes where spring gardening begins about April 1. 

 If planted later than this, the spring radishes are usually unsatis- 



