RADISHES 399 



The soil should be similar to that necessary for hotbeds and cold 

 frames, and the house equipment should be the "solid bed" rather 

 than the raised bench, as the radish does not require bottom heat ; 

 in fact, the soil should be slightly cooler than the atmosphere. If, 

 however, drain tile can be run through the solid bed and thus pro- 

 vide a free circulation of warm air through the soil, better results 

 will follow than when solid beds alone are depended upon. Raised 

 beds, unless the soil exceeds 6 inches in depth, are not advisable, 

 particularly if the crop is to be grown as a main crop. When let- 

 tuce is grown upon raised beds, radishes may be used to advantage 

 as a catch crop. Radishes are exceedingly impatient of shade, and 

 for this reason greenhouses of as light construction as possible 

 should be employed. The glass should be of good size, and the 

 framework of the house as light in construction as is consistent 

 with strength and durability. 



Seed sowing in the greenhouse. Prior to the seed sowing in 

 the greenhouse the soil should be thoroughly moistened, so that 

 at planting time it may be loose, friable, and yet contain sufficient 

 water to insure the rapid germination of the seed. The seed 

 should be planted in rows not more than 4 inches apart, and 

 where the radish is the main crop the rows may be 3 inches 

 apart. If the seed is carefully selected and tested and shows a high 

 percentage of germination, it may be sown at intervals of \ inch 

 and covered with about ^ inch of good soil, which should be 

 thoroughly firmed over the seeds. After the seed is sown, the 

 bed should receive a good watering, but the watering should not 

 be repeated until the plants have appeared above the surface of 

 the ground. 



Ventilation of the greenhouse. Keep the temperature of the 

 house at all times within the ranges above noted, particularly during 

 the early life of the plants. Provide a liberal quantity of fresh air 

 by opening the ventilators, and keep the conditions as nearly ideal 

 as possible. As soon as the -plants show the first true leaves they 

 should be thinned to stand from ij- to 2 inches apart in the row, 

 and from this time on careful tillage and the removal of all weeds 

 that may appear are all that is necessary. Careful attention, how- 

 ever, should be given to maintain a proper degree of heat and a 

 sufficient amount of moisture to insure rapid development so that 



