Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-10-19
Her.e-R.dish as Crop and Weed.


that horse-radish Is the most profitable
crop that can be grown, as the supply
is limited and the root is used as the
basis Of various condiments, ett-" He
wishes information pro and con TO assist
him in deciding whether to introduce
what may prove a pesiilent weed. "
There Is considerable profit in good
crop of horse-radish. and good deal of
work, too; It would be more generally
raised but for the fact that the demand
for il is not very large. and when the
market is oyerstocked il is very hard 10
sell il; and, moreover, the roots that
remain in The land after taking q crop
are about as hard 10 kill as Canada
thistles. and good deal harder than
couch grass. They can be eradicated
by plant ne with cabbage and celery,
which demand constant hoeing, so
that few viii remain after one seasons
ti,lagc; but il neglected late in the
season the roots willliv many years and
give good deal of trouble. especially in
grass lands. ...-i.-.
The culture of this root for sale is con-
fined almost entirely to the market gar
dens near large cities, for the reason
that the land must be very rich and
fine 10 give a good crop, and the
eradication OF the remaining roots after
the crop is taken off demands such cul-
turc rs is not easily given except upon
vegetable gardens. The best land for
the purpose is deep. sandy loan. made
line and rich by several years previous
tillage and manuring. The manure for
the crop i best applied in the fall by
ploughing under heavy dressing Of
horse-manure. say twenty-five or thirty
ions per acre. stiff or clay land will
not produce so good crop; on such
sol! the roots wilt be rough and hard 10
clean for market. If manure must be
applied in spring It should be made as
6ne as possible by composing. and
thoroughly mixed with the soil.
The land is prepared as early in
spring rs il can be worked mellow, by
deep ploughing and narrowing and
rolling. repeated until all Jumps are re-
duced to the depth of eight or ten inches
The land is then thrown int ridges
with large one horse plough. making
the ridges three and half 10 four feet
from centre to centre. The ridges are
then ralled down by the hand rake, and
the marker run along the center of each
ridge. making marks for setting the
roots two feet apart; some prefer ten
Inches. bnt think they get more small
roots. The sets are simply small bits
OF root. about the size of a pipe stem,
cut up about an inch long. They are
dropped in the hole mades by the marker
or set with a dihble, 50 as to be about
an inch under ground; every piece is
pretty sure 10 grow, it is provided with
q as many dormant buds rs thistle root,
and IS about a hard 10 Kill
The growth is slow ut first. and it is
the custom OF the best gardeners 10 use
the land on each side OF the ridges for d
couple Of rows of early heets, spinach
or lettuce. which will he cleared away
before the radish makes much growth
all saeh early crops should he cleaned
mp Inv the iirst or middle Of July. when
the horsa-radish will grow very rapidly
and soon cover the land with rank
growth nearly four feet high, especially
il the land is low aad moist. The ridg-
ing OF the lanl is believed to favor )
smooth growth of roots, and if certainly
favors the early growth OF the early crop
grown. between the rows OF horse-radish,
and makes il easier To dig the latter.
The digging resembles the haryestin.
of parsnips; il is done in November fol
such portions OF the crup as is wanted
for winter sale or forrey eWly spring
but about half the crop is usually left n
the field over winter to be sold in Apri
and NAV a ding. The roots are dug
with dung-fcrk after running larg,
pillow rs near Is can be done TO the row
without damaging the roofs. They ar
then stored in pits for winter sale, jus
as other roots. % 81
The preparing for market is the mos