KITCHEN-GARDEN PLANTS. ClIAP. 



lose in point of quickness in coming. They should be 

 sowed in shallow drills six inches apart, thinned to an inch 

 apart in the drill as soon as they come up, and the ground 

 should be kept clear of weeds by a little hoe. We have seen 

 how radishes may be had early by sowing them upon a 

 potatoe-bedj if you wish to have them still earlier, you 

 must make a bed on purpose, and cover it with a frame 

 and glass. The manner of making a hot-bed has been de- 

 scribed in Chapter III. A bed for radishes, made as 

 early as December, if you like, need not be so strong as 

 a bed for early cucumbers. Proceed, in the making of 

 the bed, in just the same manner as directed for cucum- 

 bers ; but, you need not make the bed to be above three 

 feet high. You must let the heat be gone off more in 

 this case than in the case of cucumbers, before you put 

 on the mould ; and before you put on the mould for ra- 

 dishes, take all the lights off the bed for a whole day 

 unless in case of severe frosts, snow or rainx Put the 

 mould on eight inches deep ; or, if it be nine inches, it is 

 better still. The mould should be made very fine, and it 

 should be rich without dung. There is no room to spare 

 in a hot-bed, and, therefore, you should make the drills 

 with your finger about two inches apart, and put the seed 

 along in the drills in a very even manner. When the plants 

 come up, thin them to an inch apart. That will give you 

 seventy-two radishes ; that is to say, six dozen upon 

 every square foot ; and, if your frame be twelve feet 

 long and four feet wide, this hot-bed will give you two 

 hundred and eighty-eight bunches, a dozen in a bunch. 

 Now mind, your success will depend upon two things. 

 Keeping out frost, and giving all the air that you can 

 possibly give, without letting in the frost. If it be fine 





