HORSE RADISH 
51 
does best in a rather moist soil, deep and not too 
heavy. 
The culture for home supplies requires but small space, 
and early in the spring is best to make new beds. The 
land should be trenched, liberal 
layers of manure being placed 
under the second spit ; cow 
manure is excellent for light 
land. The work of trenching 
or manuring is best done some 
time in advance of planting. One 
year’s growth will produce good 
roots, but by extending the time, 
allowing another season, much 
finer roots are obtained, but more 
astringent. The best time for 
planting is early in the spring, 
and if the land has been pre- 
pared some time, it is best to 
use a dibble, making the holes 
much deeper than the set. In 
selecting the latter, care should 
be taken to have clean growths 
free of eyes or offsets, as these 
cause a forked growth and are not liked. I have 
also seen good crops from the crown growth : that is, 
the tops are cut with a bit of root attached a few inches 
long, all side shoots carefully removed, and they certainly 
made a good plant grown thus. When root cuttings are 
used, these should be clean, straight pieces, 9 to 12 
inches long, and these may be prepared in the autumn 
and tied in small bundles, and laid in sand till planting 
time. I find this preferable to lifting roots direct out of 
the soil and planting. A bed will last for years, but 
much better results will follow annual planting if only 
on a small scale, and in no case should a bed be left 
HORSE RADISH 
{One-fifth natural size') 
