104 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



The atmosphere should be kept moist and very warm. The 

 temperature should never run below sixty at night and sixty- 

 five is preferable. 



Radish. 



The radish is among the most easily forced of the vegetables, 

 but in New England markets there is only a relatively small 

 demand for it during the winter. It is best grown as a catch 

 crop — as in the interim between lettuce and cucumbers in 

 spring or between crops of beans — or a single bed may be 

 devoted to this crop in the lettuce house. (See Plate.) 



It is usually supposed that the radish demands much the same 

 conditions as lettuce, but in our experience better results have 

 been obtained in a much higher temperature than is suitable 

 for lettuce. The crop must be forced into a rapid and con- 

 tinuous growth in order to secure the fresh, crisp roots that are 

 desired. In rich soil and with sufficient water it is sometimes 

 ready for market in twenty-one days from the seed. 



The red turnip-rooted varieties are the ones used mainly for 

 forcing. Of these Cardinal Globe and Non Plus Ultra are 

 among the best. White Box is a favorite in some markets. 



An important point to observe in marketing is that the rad- 

 ishes in any given bunch be of uniform size. The wholesale 

 market price will range from $2 to $4 per 100 bunches. A 

 bunch usually takes about eight to twelve roots; varying with 

 the size. 



In a general way, as pointed out by Galloway, it is found that 

 about thirty-five per cent, of a given crop of radishes will reach 

 marketable size in thirty-five to forty days, thirty per cent, 

 requiring two to three weeks longer and the rest never mature. 

 Now here is a chance for loss. If the whole crop is taken off 

 when the first plants are mature — as is very desirable — we have 

 no returns from about two-thirds of the ground occupied. On 

 the other hand, if we wait for more of the plants to mature, the 

 next crop is held back fully two weeks and in course of the 

 season this means loss of time sufficient to grow one full crop. 



A solution for this difficulty is offered by Professor Galloway 

 of the Department of Agriculture in a very careful study of the 

 relation of the size and weight of seeds to the growth of plants. 



