The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-04-05
FAMOUS FOR HoRsERADIsH.
Many Markets Of the States Supplied
By the Farms Located In the
City Of Trenton, N. y.

Trenton is word famous for its
horseradish farms from which prac-
ticaliy all the states in the union draw
their supply. The horseradish district
is just within the city's corporate linn
its in the valley below the Riverview
cemetery, states the New York Sun.
There are seven horseradish fields in
the tract, ranging in area from eight to
fifty acres. The weather figures as
factor undermining the crop, because
heavy dews aid the development of the
plant. But the river, or rather the rich,
coarse sand that flows with it from the
head of the tide water, is the regulator
Of good and bad hofseradish crops.
A successful horseradish farm must
be situated where foundations occur.
The flow of water over the radish bed
freshens the roots and gives the ground
that richness and sogginess necessary
to make it productive of large crops.
Twice year, and sometimes more fire.
quently, the Delaware, as if by instinct,
creeps across the land that divides it
from the radish fields and keeps them
well watered for few days at time.
Snow, or the water into which it
melts. has no effect on the radish fields.
The water from snow is too free from
foreign substances to make it benefi-
sial. The crop requires the muddy river
water, containing manure and other
like ingredients.
In the insect world there is only one
known enemy of the horsedradish, and
that is the ant. 1t deposits eggs on the
sprouts and yearly. destroys large
crops. Innumerable remedies have
been applied in an effort to eradicate
this pest, but it is still doing business.
Men are employed throughout the
setting out season to fight the ants and
remove the harmful weeds that grow
up among the radish plants. The ut
most care is necessary in watching the
horseradish.
The preparatory work of raising
horseradish begins about March 1.
The ground is ploughed and the radish
is PAINTED very much as the potato. 1t
grows rapidly and about May fine
broad leaf begins to spread about hip
high.
This is called the cedar leaf or winter
top and about September it presages
the approach Of the harvesting seaso
When the top of this leaf begins to
droop and die then vigorous digging be.
gins. The harvest extends through No.
vember.
Not all Of the crop is taken from the
ground in the fall. A considerable
quantity is allowed to remain so tina,
the spring trade may not be ignored
The first leaf, or summer top, makes it,
appearance on the radishes just about
the time that the blowing of thu
ground for the fall crop is started. The
summer radishes are taken up in the
early spring. and after being shipped
away to the buyers their former berth.
in the ground are soon occupied BY
plants for the fall sales.
The horseradishes are sold to tn,
dealers by the ton load. A good croI
will bring two tons to the acre, tn,
| market price for which is IS hundred
pounds. Some years ago the raiserl
got IS hundred, but competition ha,
had its effect upon the price. Th'
growth of the radish is not so heavy a.
ten years ago, circumstance which
the raisers cannot explain.