1882.] 



THE AMERICAN GARDEN. 



the substance of the Lettuce plant. The 

 mildew plant grows in the Lettuce in some- 

 what the same way that the Lettuce plant 

 grows in the soil, only the Lettuce plant 

 gets its food from first hands, while the 

 mildew plant steals its food from the Let- 

 tuce. 



Now, as to the frosty covering which was 

 found on the surface of the Lettuce leaf. This 

 represents or corresponds to the stems and 

 fruit or seeds of higher plants, though fungi 

 are so low in their organization as not to have 

 stems and seeds. The threads within the 



EADISHES. 



The quality of all vegetables depends 

 more or less upon the composition and 

 conditions of the soil in which they grow, 

 but with none are these of greater impor- 

 tance than with Radishes. To raise tender, 

 mild, and crisp Radishes, a deep, rich, light 

 soil is indispensable. It is only in such 

 ground that they can make a rapid growth, 

 without which they become tough and stringy. 



Radishes for earliest use are raised in hot- 

 beds, and should be among the first seeds 

 sown ; and as soon as the ground can be 

 worked in spring, a sowing should be made 

 outdoors. A large quantity can lie raised 

 from a comparatively small piece of ground ; 

 it is, therefore, well worth the trouble t<> 

 bring this in the most favorable condition. 



On heavy, clayey, and wet soils it is im- 

 possible to grow first-class Radishes. When 

 no other is available, such ground should 

 be well dressed with rotten stable manure, 

 worked deeply and thoroughly, and receive 

 an admixture of fine muck and sand, suffi- 

 cient to make it mellow and friable. The 



EARLY SCARLET TURNIP RADISH. 



substance of the Lettuce at the proper time 

 turn toward the surface and pass out through 

 the little holes called breathing pores. After 

 reaching the air they branch, and upon the 

 tip of each branch a small oval body, the 

 spore, is formed. These branched threads and 

 their spores make up the frost-like covering 

 which is seen upon the mildewed Lettuce. 



The spores are the small bodies which are I 

 capable (if germination and spreading the 

 disease, and are, therefore, in function, though 

 not in structure, like seeds. 



A remedy for the mildew is a very impor- 

 tant thing, it is of value to know the nature 

 of the pest, but of still inore practical im- 

 portance to be able to stop its ravages. There 

 is a strong objection to the use of flowers of 

 sulphur— a substance that is an effectual 

 remedy for the Grape mildew — because the 

 foliage of the Lettuce is both the portion dust- 

 ed and eaten, and unless the leaves are thor- 

 oughly washed the consumer would be sus- 

 picious of eating sulphur. Lime sprinkled 



SCARLET OLIVE-SHAPED RADISH. 



upon the plants has proved of use, but there 

 are objections to everything that is put on 

 the plants. It would seem best to abandon 

 the growth of Lettuce in those localities 

 where the soil has become infested with the 

 spores, for a period of time sufficient to kill 

 the germs by starvation. The pest is so ob- 

 scure and rapid in its workings that pre- 

 vention rather than cure must be pursued. 

 There is no trouble from the pest on new 

 soil, or that where Lettuce has not been 

 grown. 



Dr. Byron D. Halsted. 



LONG SCARLET SHORT-TOP RADISH. 



seed should be sown thinly in shallow drills, 

 twelve to fifteen inches apart, and covered 

 about half an inch deep. Some prefer to 

 sow broadcast, and to rake in the seed, 

 and good results may be obtained in this 

 way. To have a continuous supply, addi- 

 tional sowings must lie made every ten days 

 or two weeks. 



Most market-gardeners raise Radishes as 

 an auxiliary crop, and their plan may also 

 be adopted to advantage in the family gar- 

 den. To make the rows of slowly germinat- 

 ing seeds discernible as soon as possible, a 

 small quantity of Radish seeds are sown 

 with them in the same drills. The latter 

 seeds sprout so quickly that the rows be- 

 come visible in a few days after sowing, and 

 can be cultivated much sooner and easier 

 than would otherwise be possible ; and the 

 Radishes are fit for use, and will have been 

 pulled, before they have become large enough 

 to interfere with the growth of the other 



The most popular varieties cultivated — 

 represented, in considerably reduced size, in 

 the accompanying illustrations — are : 



The Early Scarlet Turnip, grown extensively 



for early marketing, is round, bright red, of 

 medium size, and mild flavor ; it grows rap- 

 idly, and should be used before it attains its 

 full size. 



Early Short l'<>\> Long Scarlet, the most 

 valuable long variety for market, as well as 

 for home use. Grows six to nine inches in 

 length, is of bright scarlet color, and, when 

 grown in. suitable soil, of the best quality. 



Scarlet Olire Shaped. — A very early, hand- 

 some, and excellent variety; is of light 

 crimson color, oblong shape, tender, and 

 desirable in every way. 



FRENC 



REAKFAST RADISH 



French Breakfast, much used for early 

 forcing, on account of its quick growth. It, 

 is of scarlet color, oval form, and good 

 flavor. 



White Tipped Scarlet Turnip and Olire 

 Shaped are now much in favor. They do 

 not differ from the varieties of which they 

 are sports, except in the color of the tips, 

 which are pure white, making them very 

 attractive and ornamental for the table. 



ASPARAGUS. 



The most essential requisite for successful 

 Asparagus culture is sufficient space, and 

 yet not one bed in ten is planted with a view 

 to supply this need. The old system of pav- 

 ing the bottom and crowding the roots into 

 narrow beds, so that they could not extend 

 in either direction, must have been borrowed 

 from the Chinese, with whom the dwarfing 

 and distorting of forest trees and women's 

 feet has reached the highest perfection, and 

 ranks among the fine arts. But, as even the 

 Celestials are commencing to shake off old 



WHITE-TIPPED SO 



_ET TURNIP RADISH 



superstitious notions, we shall, perhaps, also 

 participate in the march of progress, and 

 plant Asparagus according to the natural 

 laws governing the plant. 



The best and easiest way to raise Aspara- 

 gus in the garden is to plant it two feet 

 apart in a shajle row, and let the roots reach 

 out, for their nourishment, as far as they 

 may. If it is not feasible to lengthen the 

 row sufficiently to produce all the Asparagus 

 desired, a second row may be planted not 

 nearer than four feet to the first, and when 

 more space can be given a distance of six 

 feet is preferable. 



