190 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



the botanical name, is derived. Its flowers are white, and 

 appear in panicles in May. It has long been an inhabitant 

 jf the garden. 



Culture. — Horse-radish delights in a deep rich mould, 

 moderately and regularly moist — the roots are never of 

 any size if grown in poor soil, or under shade of trees. It 

 seldom produces seed, and hence is propagated by sets 

 provided by cutting the roots and offsets into lengths of 

 two inches. The tops and crowns of the roots make the 

 best sets as they are earlier, and make a finer growth than 

 those from the centre of the root. Each set should have 

 two eyes. 



Horse-radish may be planted from November to March, 

 inclusive. The finest crops are made by trenching the 

 ground two feet deep, planting the cuttings along the bot- 

 tom of the trench, and the mould from the next trench 

 turned over upon them. 



They may also be inserted with a long blunt-pointed 

 dibble the same depth ; let the rows be eighteen inches 

 apart, and the sets twelve inches in the row. After the 

 beds are planted, smooth the surface and keep clear of 

 weeds, and avoid treading upon the beds, as they should 

 be kept as light as possible. If planted in March, a crop 

 of radishes or lettuce may be taken off the ground before 

 the plants make their appearance. They speedily root 

 and send up long straight shoots, those appearing in April 

 that were planted in autumn. The only cultivation is to 

 keep them free from weeds, and remove the decayed leaves 

 in autumn. Hoe and rake the bed over in autumn, and 

 also the following spring. By the next fall, the roots are 

 ready to take up as wanted. If the plants throw up suckers, 

 they should be carefully removed as they appear. 



If any manure is applied to horse-radish, it must be put 

 at the bottom of the trench before planting, or the plant 



