VEGETABLES. 215 



When dishes are not provided for staging, a shallow box three 

 inches deep is necessary for the purpose, into which the tubers 

 should be laid upon green moss, arranging the colours tastefully, 

 and keeping an inch of clear space between each tuber. The 

 points of merit are : (1.) The tubers should be of a good size, 

 equal and alike in form and colour; and (2.) the flesh when 

 cut across should be clear and of one colour. Coloured varie- 

 ties with a pink tinge in the flesh should not be disqualified 

 on account of it. 



THE KADISH. 



There are numerous varieties of the Radish in cultivation, 

 the best of which for exhibition are the French Breakfast and 

 Long Scarlet for forcing and the earliest crops in the open air, 

 and the turnip-rooted red and white varieties for summer and 

 autumn crops. They thrive best in a rich, warm, free soil, in 

 a sheltered spot in spring and early summer, and on a north 

 sloping border in hot summer weather, when the direct rays of 

 hot sunshine are detrimental to their quality. Seed should be 

 sown from four to six weeks, according to the season, before 

 the date when the roots are required. If the weather proves 

 hot and dry, they are much benefited by a plentiful supply of 

 water and liquid manure to promote a free and rapid growth, 

 upon which their chief qualities depend. In selecting them for 

 exhibition, choose clean well-grown roots, which break crisp and 

 clean, and show no fibre in them. The points of merit are : 

 (1.) Size, and all the sample equal; (2.) quality, fresh and 

 clean from small fibry roots; and (3.) flesh crisp and juicy, 

 and of a brisk, pleasant, slightly pungent flavour. 



THE RHUBARB. 



This accommodating vegetable may be said to grow any- 

 where, but can scarcely be placed in any soil too rich for its 

 taste. Two first-rate varieties are Johnstone's St. Martin and 

 Victoria. The former is comparatively sweet, while they both 

 possess a fine red colour, and can be grown to a large size. 

 The open-air culture being simple, a few hints on forcing of 

 Rhubarb may be useful. The produce from plants lifted and 



