258 VEGETABLE FORCING 
quite small. Ordinarily, they are not sold until they are 
at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter. Market 
requirements should also have consideration. 
Ill-shaped roots should be discarded. When the final 
pulling is made on a given area, there may be some very 
small roots, which should be thrown away or packed and 
sold separately. 
Five radishes in each bunch is probably the most com- 
mon number. If the roots are very small, it may be 
necessary to tie six or seven in a bunch in order to meet 
the requirement of the market to be supplied. Some 
growers put 10 to 12 in a bunch, and then sell at prices 
proportionally high. This saves labor in tying, washing 
and packing. 
Raffia is commonly used for tying, though many 
growers use light cotton twine. The radishes are im- 
proved in appearance by clipping off the slender tips of 
the roots, which also saves time in washing. Holding 
the tied bunches in running water under a spigot may 
clean the roots sufficiently for market; but if they have 
been grown in clay soil, the use of a scrubbing brush will 
be necessary to remove the finer particles of soil. 
The radishes may be packed in baskets and shallow 
crates of various kinds. Half-bushel splint baskets are 
highly satisfactory. They hold from eight to ten dozen 
bunches. If the inside of the baskets is lined with two 
or three thicknesses of paper, and the baskets, after the 
radishes are packed, are securely wrapped with paper 
and tied, it will be possible to ship the roots in severe 
winter weather. 
Yields and returns—About two dozen good radishes 
should be grown on each square foot of ground. In other 
words, about five bunches should be produced to the 
square foot. The prices are so variable in different mar- 
kets and at different seasons of the vear that it is im- 
possible to give figures relating to returns which are of 
