CRUCIFER^ 343 



when the latter has run wild. White charlock, however, has yellowish 

 flowers turning white or purplish, and a silique which is much more conspicu- 

 ously jointed and longitudinally grooved than that of common radish. 



Raphanus salivus caudatus, the rat-tailed radish, an annual herb native to 

 South Asia, has a slender, twisted pod, 8 to lo inches long, which thus differs 

 from the short, thick ones of common radish. These pods form the edible 

 portion of the plant. 



Types of Radishes. — As to seasonal development, there are 

 three groups of radishes, as follows: 



1. Early or Forcing Radishes. — A forcing crop is one grown 

 out of season, and out of its natural environment. Hot 

 beds, cold frames and greenhouses are the forcing structures 

 in use. The chief crops forced besides radishes are lettuce, 

 tomatoes, cucumbers, cauliflowers and beans. Early or 

 forcing radishes reach an edible size very soon, often in from 

 twenty to thirty days. In this group, belong such varieties 

 as French Breakfast, Early Scarlet Turnip, Scarlet Globe, 

 Long Scarlet Short Top, and White "Icicle." 



2. Summer Radishes. — The roots of this group are slower in 

 maturing, requiring from six to eight weeks to reach a 

 marketable size, and are larger than those of the first group. 

 Here belong such varieties as Long White Vienna, Chartiers, 

 White Strasburg, Stuttgart. 



3. Winter Radishes. — These have a compact and firm flesh 

 and keep well through the winter. The roots require several 

 months to reach maturity, often attaining a large size. 

 Common winter varieties are Black Spanish, Sakurajima or 

 Japanese radish, and White Chinese. 



As to shape, radishes may be classified as follows (Fig. 143) : 



1. Round or turnip-shaped (Early Scarlet Turnip, Scarlet Globe, Scarlet 

 Gem). 



2. Olive or oval-shaped (intermediates) (French Breakfast, Early Scarlet 

 Olive-shaped, Black Spanish). 



3. Half-long (Scarlet Half-long, French, Half -long Deep Scarlet). 



4. Long (Vienna, Chartier, Long Scarlet, White "Icicle"). 



