the plants to be cut young, similar to mustard and cress. 6. White Turnip-rooted is highly esteemed in the spring and early part of summer; when young, it is very delicate and crisp. 7. Red or Crimson Turnip-rooted is held in the same estimation as the last. 8. Black Turnip-rooted Spanish. This sort grows as large as middling-sized turnips; the root is white within, but it has a black or dark brown skin. They are esteemed by many for autumn and winter eating, for which purpose the roots should be drawn before hard frosts come on, in a dry day in November, and after being divested of their leaves, laid in dry sand, as practised for carrots; if guarded from wet and frost, they will keep good in this way till spring. 9. White Spanish. This variety is principally cultivated for an early autumn crop, and when grown in a light sandy soil, will be found an agreeable addition to the salading at that season of the year. Culture. The soil in which the radish seems to thrive best (either the long or turnip-rooted kind) is a light, rich, sandy loam, dry for early sowings, but more moist for the later. Few vegetables require less artificial culture than the radish, as the immense quantities sent to the London markets in March and April fully indicate. These are raised in beds, the seed being sown in January and February, and covered with garden mats or dry straw for protection during frosty nights and bad weather. When radishes are required early, the seed should be sown in a frame, if there be any to spare, about the end of October, and covered with the lights. The plants usually come up in about a week; and when they appear, the lights should be lifted or taken off occasionally in favourable weather; for if once the plants are drawn (which is the cause of the failure of many crops), especially if sown on a slight heat, they seldom make much progress afterwards. Should they be too thick when fairly up, a thinning will be necessary to the distance of an inch and a half; then, over the whole, give a light sifting of dry mould; and by giving air when the weather will permit, and protection from wet and frost, fine young radishes may grace the table at Christmas. Where there are no frames to spare, the beds may be covered with mats over hoops, and the sides secured by boards and straw-bands. The best radishes for an early principal crop, are the scarlet long-rooted, and the red and white turnip. These should be sown towards the end of January, if the weather permit, in three or four feet beds, not too thick, in some warm sheltered spot in the garden, and covered with straw or fern (this last, as before stated, is one of the best of coverings, admitting air at the same time that it protects). After the plants are fairly up, they should be carefully covered at all times when the weather is likely to affect them, and frequently looked at, to see that they are not drawn up. When the crops have got their rough leaf, they should be thinned out, where they are too thick, to the distance of two inches, as there will be constantly more thinning by the daily drawing of the young radishes. For successional crops, seed of either of the sorts should be sown once a month or earlier, from February till June, choosing (if it can be had) a moist spot of ground, which will not only forward the growth of the crops, but increase the size of the roots, and render them more mild and crisp in eating it will also save much watering in the early part of summer; otherwise, in a dry season, the radishes will be hot and stringy. : If the large salmon radish is required, the seed may be thinly scattered among the stationary crops of carrots, parsnips, or such like, and by coming off quickly, will not do any injury; but this practice, especially when there is sufficient room, is not to be recommended. For raising the two sorts of Spanish radish, the seed should be sown about the beginning of August in beds; these should be thinned to a greater distance than the common sort, as the roots come much larger. If the weather happens to be very dry at the time of sowing, a little moisture will be necessary to cause the seed to vegetate, and it will likewise be of much service to the roots, in rendering them better flavoured and more tender. The Latin name of this plant is derived from its bell-shaped flowers, and the specific rapunculus from the root delighting in moisture The English name rampion is considered a corruption of the latter. Rampion is a native of this country, and of several other parts of Europe. It has a long spindle-shaped root of a whitish cast: the leaves grow close to the ground, till the stem shoots up into blossom about two feet high, in which state its bunches of blue flowers render it a very ornamental plant. The root is the part which is used: it is eaten raw, like a radish, and has a pleasant nutty flavour; it is also sometimes cut into winter salads, and then the leaves as well as the roots are used; but of late years the use of this vegetable has been on the decline. Rampion is a biennial plant, and requires a light rich soil. The seed should be sown as soon as it is gathered, when ripe, about the end of July or the beginning of August; for if kept out of the ground till the spring, it often lays a year in the ground before vegetating. It does not bear transplanting well, otherwise plenty of plants might be procured from the self-sown ones. After sowing the seed, it must be lightly raked in, and when the plants are sufficiently up they will require to be thinned out to three or four inches apart, and, from their nature, to be kept in a tolerably moist state throughout the season. In November the plants will be fit for use, and will continue good till April; if wanted in frosty weather, they should be covered with some dry litter, as they are best if taken up when required for use. 48. RAPE.Var. BRASSICA. Brassica is the generic name of this plant; according to the Linnæan system, the original Latin name napus is made the specific. of Wild rape or navew is a native of Britain, and is exceedingly hardy; it is chiefly used as a small salad, and is cultivated for that purpose both in winter and summer, similarly to the mustard and The seed of rape being cheaper than mustard, large quantities of it are substituted for that herb in the London markets; but it is not nearly equal to the latter either in virtue, tenderness, or taste. cress. It is often cultivated by the country people and cottagers, who find it a good substitute for greens during the winter; for which purpose it should be sown in July or August, and when of a proper size transplanted to half a yard apart; and after being frost-bitten, it will be found tolerably good and tender. The botanic name Rheum is supposed to have been given to the rhubarb from its superior medicinal qualities; and its specific Ponticum, as coming from Pontis: the other names are derived from the habit of the plant. The Genuine or True Rhubarb is principally grown in China, where it is dried and prepared for exportation. It is chiefly purchased by the Turks, Jews, and Gentiles, who monopolise the trade as much |