June, 1913 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



303 



prove more dependable in dry seasons. 

 American grown radish seed always pro- 

 duces plants with larger tops than the 

 French. For this reason, French seed is 

 preferred for use in hotbeds or greenhouses. 



A very important point, and one that is 

 not sufficiently emphasized by most cata- 

 logues or horticultural guide books, is the 

 necessity of properly transplanting or 

 "thinning out" the seedling radishes, so 

 as to give them a good chance for quick 

 and proper development. Radishes in a 

 crowded row are not only apt to be "off" 

 in shape, but they likewise will be of in- 

 different quality. Moreover, they will go 

 to seed just twice as quickly as when grown 

 the proper distance apart, and will pass 

 the ideal stage of development before the 

 planter has really had a chance to get the 

 full benefit of the patch. 



Growing radishes in crowded rows or 

 beds is a waste. The ideal thing is 

 to get busy as soon as the seedlings begin 

 to form the second pair of leaves. Then 

 get down on your knees and thin out the 

 extra early spring sorts to stand from one 

 to two inches apart in the row. Give the 

 early long sorts, like Long Scarlet Short 

 Top and White Icicle, from two to three 

 inches, let the larger and summer sorts 

 stand four inches apart; and from four to 

 six inches is not too much for the very 

 large growing winter sorts. 



RADISHES AND INTENSIVE CULTIVATION 



As a short season crop, radishes lend 

 themselves readily to growing between 

 other garden crops of slower development 

 and later maturity. Since some of the 

 early sorts, such as Rapid Red, Hailstone, 

 etc., have only from four to six leaves when 

 fully developed, with the tops not exceed- 

 ing four inches in diameter, they offer an 

 ideal subject for utilizing space between 

 rows of other vegetables. It is not even nec- 

 essary to plant these other vegetables more 

 than the usual distance apart. Lettuce, 

 as a rule, stands from 20 to 24 inches apart 

 in the garden. Since three weeks will 

 grow lettuce hardly larger than three to four 

 inches across, it may be seen that radishes 

 can be used between the rows of even as 

 quickly growing a vegetable as lettuce. 



This applies to nearly all garden crops. 

 Between tomato plants, for which are 

 allowed 2§ to 3 feet between the row, I 

 have even grown successfully two rows of 

 these small early radishes. 



Bear in mind, when utilizing radishes 

 as a companion crop, the time it takes for 

 them to mature. Do not attempt to grow 

 long, later varieties like Cincinnati Market 

 or Chartiers between rows of tall vegetables. 

 That would hold back the development of 

 the radishes and therefore give a crop of 

 indifferent quality. 



As mentioned before, the number of 

 leaves on the top of some of the extra early 

 radishes is remarkably small at time of 

 maturity, so do not be deceived in the 

 judging of roots by the appearance of plants. 

 When Rapid Red, Rosy Gem, etc., have 



six to eight leaves and are from two to 

 three weeks old, it will pay you to go over 

 the row every day and pull those roots 

 that are of the size promising the highest 

 quality. In all of the extra early round 

 sorts, we find the highest quality in roots 

 averaging from f to 1 inch in diameter. 

 The early long sorts are at their best when 

 they are between 4 and 5 inches long, 

 with about f of an inch in diameter. Both 

 the summer sorts and the winter sorts are 

 of good quality so long as the flesh is of a 

 firm texture. 



The dozen varieties recommended in the 

 following paragraphs are the ones that ; 

 repeated tests of nearly all the dependable 

 standard sorts have proved to be the most 

 desirable and best "fixed." They come true 

 to type and are ready when the planter has 

 a right to expect them. Of course there 

 are many other sorts, equally attractive, of 

 equally good quality, with perhaps some 

 characteristics not found in these. 



But to attempt to give all the desirable 

 varieties here, would be more confusing 

 than benefiting to the average planter, 

 whose garden space for radishes is limited 

 to a few rows. 



EXTRA EARLY RADISHES 



Rapid Red. — Of all the small "cherry- 

 stone" radishes, this carries the palm for 

 producing attractive roots in the remark- 

 ably short period of 18 days. Sown on 

 April 28th in cold clay soil, this fine little, 



sort produced perfectly round solid roots 

 I inch in diameter by May 16th. No 

 doubt this can be beaten on muck soil 

 or warmer soil of sandier nature. Skin 

 bright red, exceedingly thin; flesh pure 

 white and of remarkable crispness. Rapid 

 Red will remain in prime condition for 3 to 4 

 days when it will become spongy and pun- 

 gent. But while at its best, it holds its own 

 with all the first early radishes offered to-day. 



Hailstone. — This is the pure white com- 

 panion to Rapid Red, differing only in 

 color and shape. Hailstone is of decidedly 

 flat or "turnip" shape, roots averaging 

 1 inch in diameter by \ inch deep through. 

 Like Rapid Red it has very small tops and 

 a short slender tap root, is solid, crisp and 

 of mild flavor. For a week after it reaches 

 the desirable inch size it will "stand" in 

 good condition. After that the quality 

 deteriorates rapidly. 



Rosy Gem is the finest of the many strains 

 of Scarlet Turnip White Tip radish in 

 cultivation to-day. This sort is, perhaps, 

 listed under more different names than any 

 other. A brilliant scarlet, globular radish, 

 blending into white at the bottom, of un- 

 excelled quality and appearance. Rosy 

 Gem becomes fit for use in 20 to 24 days 

 from date of sowing and remains in good 

 condition for nearly a week. This is one 

 of the best for forcing and one of the most 

 attractive radishes known. 



Scarlet Globe. — Perhaps the best known 

 of all early turnip radishes and a great 



White Stuttgart, a popular summer 

 radish, not so shapely as the next 



White Strassburg. a type of the 

 mid-season or summer radish 



Icicle, a long white spring variety. 

 Keeps solid for a long time 



