We have to learn, you know, and if we won’t learn by doing right and profiting by it, then we shall have to learn by doing wrong and suffering for it—“the way of transgressors is hard.” If you have very little time or very little land, you will probably get the best return for your time and money by growing radishes early in the season with lettuce, followed by bush-beans or tomatoes and then sweet corn. Put some nasturtiums in any odd space and climbing nasturtiums and morning-glories on your fence, and you will have a very creditable looking garden—big returns for little expenditures. If you haven’t got any land, don’t let that discourage you: grow some things in a window box and learn how, so that you have learned something when you do get some land. You can grow mushrooms in half a barrel in the cellar. The thing to do is to get started growing something. FOOTNOTES: [4] NOTE.—Another way is to mix a little soil with rain water, stir it well, and put the litmus paper in it. Pure rain water is the only water that can be successfully used in this test. Part II. CHAPTER XIII. ROOT CROPS. Root crops are usually grown in drills and are not ordinarily transplanted. They are hardy and require little skill in the gardener, but they need a cool season and deep soil so as to grow long, firm and well shaped. The quicker they grow the better the quality, so that in the north it is necessary to warm the soil with stable manure and have it in good condition. Good tilth helps quick growth and therefore improves the quality; so that it rests with the gardener to make his root crops among the first and the best in the market. The price of a root crop depends almost entirely upon its looks, so have as few side roots as possible, and cut off those that may develop in spite of care. Forked or branched roots should not be mixed in when we market, for even a few such specimens lessen the price of all. Early crops, such as radishes, beets, carrots and turnips, are sold in bunches of 6 to 12. All in the bunch should be of the same size and shape and tied neatly around the leaf-stalks with a cord. The leaves are left on these early vegetables, so they should be kept cool and moist, as wilted leaves also spoil the sale price. Beauty may be only “skin deep,” but it commands the market. Late root crops sell in bulk, and harvesting them is the hardest work connected with root crops. It is well to plow them out, cut off the tops, and allow the roots to lie in the sun only until the soil is dry enough to shake off. They are then ready for storing in pit or cellar, and are easy to keep. RADISHES.