183 



Root Crops 



allowed to persist year after year, ofteii as a weedy plant, 

 and is dug in spring as wanted. It is customary to plant 

 the old crowns, and sprawling crooked roots are the re- 

 sult. These, roots are good enough for home use, 

 but they would not sell on the market. For com- 

 mercial purposes, a clean straight shapely root is 

 desired (Fig. 91) ; and to obtain this 

 root, careful propagation, good land 

 and thorough tillage are essential. In 

 some parts of the country the growing of 

 horse-radish is an important industry. 



As a commercial crop, horse-radish is 

 grown as an annual, being propagated 

 from cuttings of the small side roots. 

 These cuttings are made from the trim- 

 mings when the roots are dressed for 

 market in autumn. A good cutting 

 should be the size of a lead pencil up 

 to that of one's little- finger (Fig. 93). 

 It is usually made 5 to 8 inches long, and Horse- 

 radish the lower end is cut slanting to desig- sets 



^'' nate the right end up when planting '^ ^'^'' 

 (Fig. 93). These cuttings or sets are tied in bundles and 

 stored in the cellar or pit, as are other roots. 



Sets may be planted at the first opening of spring, but 

 since the plant makes the larger part of its growth, late in 

 the season, it is customary to hold them rather late and to 

 plant them with some other crop. They are often planted 

 in the rows of early cabbages or beets. When the. cabbages 

 are ofE, the horse-radish- takes the land. The sets are 

 dropped right end up in furrows or holes, which are made 



good 



