CATCH CROPS 65 



Light, air and moisture are necessary to produce young, 

 fleshy radishes, and we have never known a satisfactory crop 

 produced without these. Fairly treated, it is a quick crop, 

 and when we have grown them, we could always take two crops 

 between October and March. 



MINT 



The forcing of mint is not so systematically taken up as it 

 might be, and is too often looked upon as a negligible quantity. 

 This should not be, for young green mint is always saleable. 

 Except during its natural season of growth it realises com- 

 paratively high prices, and the few growers who do it in 

 quantity seldom have cause for complaint. 



To obtain the best results this herb should at the beginning 

 receive more consideration than it does, the aim being to produce 

 strong roots, for none but these should be taken indoors. But 

 perhaps we should describe our own method, which we have 

 proved successful, though it differs somewhat from the ordinary. 

 In March we lift enough roots to fill about 100 boxes and plant 

 them in 3 inches of soil, the boxes being fairly stout. These 

 boxes are stood on ashes in partial shade throughout the summer 

 and watered and syringed every day in dry weather. Nothing 

 is cut from them during the whole time, but after the tops have 

 dried they are cut off, the boxes weeded, and they are ready 

 for carrying indoors at any time. 



For cutting at Christmas, we introduce them to a warm 

 house about December ist, and being well established, with 

 all the summer reserves of strength to work upon, they start 

 growing both strongly and quickly, especially if compared 

 with newly boxed or planted stuff. Although we introduce 

 them in relays, it is several weeks before any box can be said 

 to be exhausted, but when it is we put it out, and if necessary 

 save the best of the roots for making new beds in the open. 



The green spear mint is the only one worth forcing. It does 

 best in a moderately light soil, loves moisture and heat, but is 

 a victim to red spider if once it is allowed to get the upper hand. 

 But that will not be unless the syringe is permitted to lie idle 

 on the shelf. 



