alleys between seed-beds, but care must be taken that this plan does not interfere with the proper work of hoeing, weeding, thinning, &c.  When seed is sown on light soils a moderate firming with the back of the spade may be desirable, but generally speaking it is sufficient to cover the seed lightly, and so leave it.  To thin the crop early is, however, of great importance, no matter how wasteful the process may seem, for wherever the plants are crowded they will make large useless tops, and small worthless roots, and prove altogether unprofitable.  For the earliest sowings we have choice of many sorts, round, oval, and long; but the long Radishes are not well adapted for late sowing, whereas the round and oval sorts stand pretty well in hot weather, if on good ground in a cool situation, with the help of a slight amount of shade.  As the year advances we return to the practice recommended for the earliest crops.

==Winter Radishes==.—­These large-growing kinds are much prized by those who use them in winter in the preparation of salads.  Seed may be sown in the open from June to August, in drills nine inches apart, and the plants thinned to six inches in the rows.  The roots may be left in the ground and dug as required, or taken up and stored in sand.  These Radishes may also be cooked in the same manner as Turnips and they make an excellent dish.

==Rhubarb==

==Rheum hybridum==

Rhubarb is so much valued that we need not recommend it.  There are some remarkably fine sorts in cultivation, adapted for early work, main-crop, and late use.

Although an accommodating plant, Rhubarb requires for profitable production a rich deep soil, well worked, and heavily dressed with rotten manure, and a situation remote from trees, but in some degree sheltered.  It will be observed that the markets are supplied from sheltered alluvial soils, that have been much cultivated, and kept in high condition by abundant manuring.  On the other hand, the coarser kinds will make a free and early growth on a damp clay, if sheltered from the east winds that so often damage early spring vegetation.  The shortest way to establish a plantation is to purchase selected roots of first-class named varieties, and plant them in one long row, three to four feet apart, or in a bed or compartment four feet apart each way.  The smaller kinds will do very well at two and a half feet each way, but for large-growing sorts this would be injuriously close.  Plant with the top bud two inches deep, tread in moderately firm, then lightly prick the ground over, and so leave it.  Rhubarb may be planted at any time in spring or autumn but of the two the spring is preferable.  In any case where a special cultivation is determined on, it will be found that bone manure has a wonderful effect on the growth of Rhubarb.