The Radish 



173 



nate and thereby break the crust and mark the row (Fig. 

 80) and thus facilitate tillage, and the roots may be har- 

 vested before the other crops need the space. For family 

 use, radishes are 



often grown in beds /^"^^ "Ji^^ 



by themselves. In ' ' ^ 



clean friable land 

 they are sometimes 

 sown broadcast. They 

 may be forced in 

 winter, and grown 

 for very early spring 

 use in hotbeds and later in coldframes. Better roots 

 and a more uniform crop are secured by sowing only 

 the large seeds (Fig. 81). The small ones may be sifted 

 out with a hand screen. 



If the land is loose and rich, the spring radishes should 

 come to edible maturity in four to six weeks. The roots 

 are of better quality when they are relatively small and 

 crisp. When growth ceases the roots become stringy, 

 bitter, and often hollow, and the plant runs to seed (as 



ish seedlings (X about 



81. Radish seeds (X 4). 



Pod of radish (X 1/3). 



it does also from too late sowing). Sow at frequent inter- 

 vals for a succession. Radishes do not come to their 

 full perfection in hard and dry land. The roots are so 



