438 On the Varieties of Spring Radish. 



what I conceive to be meant by a Short-top Radish, and if 

 they soon attain a proper size, as well as force well, they are 

 then called Early, and Frame Radishes. 



The Long White Radish, which is sometimes called the 

 White Transparent, as well as the White Italian, and in 

 latter years the Naples Radish, appears to be the oldest in- 

 habitant of our gardens ; for it is the only true spring Radish 

 with a long root mentioned by Gerard; so that, without 

 doubt, the other kinds are of later origin. Gerard calls* it 

 Radicula sativa minor or Small Garden Radish, and says, 

 " the root is small, long, white both within and without, ex- 

 cept a little that shews itself above the ground, of a reddish 

 colour." It came in the collection of seeds from Holland, 

 but was not amongst those sent to the Society from Paris, 

 by M. Vilmorin : it is mentioned in the Bon Jardinier 

 as la Rave blanche. It is a week later in becoming fit for 

 use than those sorts most commonly grown ; it is very mild, 

 and has a delicate pleasant flavour, certainly equal to the 

 others, and is deserving cultivation on account of the differ- 

 ence of its colour. It grows but little above ground, and 

 when exposed, is slightly tinged with green, and sometimes 

 with faint purple ; the portion below the surface is of a pure 

 white; the flesh is transparent when young, but becomes 

 more opaque as the root enlarges ; the leaves are generally 

 strong and large. 



The White Russian Radish, of which a short account is 

 given in the Society's Transactions^ differs from the Long 

 White Radish in several points : it is not fit for use until 



* Gerard's Herball by Johnson, page 237, 238. 

 f Page 115 of the present volume. 



