I 



CULTURE OF CA.RROTS. 63 



crop is seldom known to fail — For this purpose choose such 2tz>tnmental 



carrots as are in no respect injured by frost ; and the hand- in tructions f>r 



somest of a middle size; trim the green top, leaving ^b^^-^ ^^ j^^^^^"'* **^ 



an inch of it, and cut two inches, off the extremity of the 



Toot. Plant them in double rows, a foot wide, and six 



inches in the row ; the interval of ihe double rows three feet: 



this is requisite, as the seed does not ripen together. The 



path or interval serves to gather the seed, which must be 



done daily as the heads of seed arrive at matuiity : it is 



frequently three weeks befoie the crop is cleared. Spread 



the heads of seeds to dry on a floor, or in dry weather oa 



the ground ; afterwards separate the seed from the stalks 



•with a comb. The season to plant carrots for seed, is the 



latter end of February or the beginning of March, when ih« 



severe frosts are over. 



Having explained, in as concise a manner as possible, 

 what is necessary to be observed, to enable' the practical 

 farmer to cultivate this highly valuable root, in districts 

 hitherto deprived of the great benefit it affords to the 

 community, and the great profit to the cultivator, free from 

 all theoretical and speculative opinions, I proceed 

 to a short deiail of the use and application of car- 

 rots when cultivated. On their utility for f^imily con- 

 sumption, it will not be necessary to dwell; I have there- 

 fore only to remark, since vegetables are found to be more 

 or less nutritive in proportion to the saccharine matter 

 they contain, but few vegetables will be found to excel , 

 them, I have known large crops of carrots sold, for the 

 London market, at forty shillings per load, delivered at a 

 port four miles distant from the land, which produced thera 

 a price for which a ready sale will be found in any populouis 

 town, during the winter season : for this purpose they should 

 be assorted ; all the overgrown and crooked ones reserved 

 for home consumption, foy which they will answer as well 

 as the others ; and when topped, half an inch of the gret-a 

 crown left en : for this puipi se they are not usually wash- 

 ed. For home consumption I have invariably found them 

 to answer best for the use of cart-horses ; when designed for 

 the food of other cattle, of any description, the green top 



taunt 



