28 
The Colorado Experiment Station. 
it should be a sandy loam containing- plenty of humus. The soil 
should be deeply cultivated late in the fall and left in slight ridges 
which allow it to warm up earlier and dry out sooner in the spring. 
Planting .—The surface is harrowed and smoothed early in 
the spring and the seed planted in rows fifteen to eighteen inches 
apart. . About 30 or 40 seed are planted to a foot of drill and these 
are covered three-fourths of an inch deep and the soil compacted 
over them. It has been found that it pays to use only the largest 
seed. A much better and earlier crop results when large sized seed 
are planted than when smaller ones are used. 
In addition to being planted in the above manner, radishes are 
very often grown a,s a companion crop with lettuce or as a catch 
crop between cabbage, beans and potatoes. Radishes require only 
a short time for maturity and when planted between the rows of 
these crops they reach maturity and are out of the way before the 
ground is needed by the other crop. 
Forcing Radishes .—This vegetable is often forced in hotbeds, 
cold frames, muslin frames, and sometimes in greenhouses. Seed 
are usually planted in the hotbed or cold frame very early in the 
spring in rows about six inches apart with 30 or 40 seed to the foot.. 
Grown in this manner the crop will reach maturity in three to five 
weeks. In a good hotbed a crop of radishes may be growri in the 
middle of winter. In the greenhouse, they may, of course, be grown 
at any season of the year, but spring conditions must be imitated as 
far as possible. Radishes are comparatively hardy plants and nat¬ 
urally grow in the cool parts of the year. Therefore when grown 
in greenhouses or hotbeds, low temperatures should be the rule. A 
temperature of 6o° to 65° Fahrenheit during the day and 45 0 to 
55 0 Fahrenheit at night is about right. 
Winter Radishes .—The winter varieties are comparatively lit¬ 
tle grown in this country. The seed may be planted in July or early 
September and cultivated until the approach of severe weather. 
Then they are taken up and placed in sandy soil in the cellar or put 
in pits in the field the same as turnips. In this way, they will keep 
in as good condition as turnips. 
RHUBARB. 
Rhubarb, or pieplant, is found in almost every garden. It is 
grown for its thick leaf stalks which are used in making pies. The 
stalks are also cut in cubes and canned for use as occasion requires. 
Rhubarb does best in northern climates. 
Soil —The soil should be deeply plowed and given a heavy 
dressing of decomposed stable manure. It is difficult to make the soil 
too rich. 
