148 ROOT CROPS THAT ENDURE SUMMER HEAT 



or plowed close to each side of the row, and then the roots pulled 

 out by hand. This is about the only practicable way of securing 

 them Avithout injury. 



Salsify. — This plant is also known as " vegetable oyster " and 

 " oyster plant." Its cultural requirements are very much the 

 same as those of the parsnip. It requires the whole season in 

 which to develop, and can endure much dry weather after gaining 

 a foothold. The seeds are large and of very awkward shape for 

 sowing in a seed drill. The plants are even more difficult than 

 parsnips to thin, on account of the presence of numerous side 

 roots. Therefore, since the seed usually germinates well, it is 

 often advisable to sow it by hand, taking sufficient time and care 

 to place the seeds individually where the plants are wanted, and 

 thus dispense with the necessity of thinning. 



The care of the growing crop is the same as that of any other 

 root crop grown in drills. There are no serious enemies, and no 

 particular skill is required in growing the crop. All that is neces- 

 sary is to plant on deep, rich soil in early spring and give good 

 tillage throughout the season. The crop is harvested the same as 

 parsnips (Fig. 91). 



Scolymus and Scorzonera, known respectively as Spanish salsify 

 and black salsify, are sometimes grown as substitutes for common 

 salsify. They thrive under the same conditions and demand the 

 same kind of culture as salsify. As yet they are little known in 

 America. The Spanish salsify is less promising than the black, 

 on account of the thistle-like character of the foHage (Fig. 92). 



Horse-radish is extensively used as a condiment to serve with 

 cold meats. It is in great demand at the present time and the 

 price is high. Comparatively few gardeners seem inclined to 

 grow the crop. Perhaps this is because of the difficulty of eradi- 

 cating it from a piece of land on which it has once been grown. 



Although horse-radish makes its most rapid growth in the 

 cool weather of autumn, it is usually planted early in the spring, 

 and is able to withstand almost any extreme of heat. The roots 

 are uninjured by freezing and may be dug late in the fall or left 

 in the ground until spring. 



Propagation. — Horse-radish seldom produces seed; hence root 

 cuttings or " sets " are used for planting. These are made from 

 the small side roots removed from the main roots in trimming 

 for market. As ordinarily used they are five to six inches long 

 and from one-fourth to one-half inch in diameter. The top is 



