CULTIVATION OE ROOTS. 



BY EEV. J. M. MERRICK. 



I apprehend that farmers would include root culture more 

 generally in their plan if they had more exact knowledge 

 of its advantages, its methods and its expenses. I do not 

 believe that they forego any benefits or any chance to make 

 money, wilfully or because they are inordinately attached 

 to old habits. If new crops and new methods of cultiva- 

 tion have been neglected too long, it is not because our 

 farmers choose to remain behind the rest of the world, but 

 either because they lack the capital necessary to embark in 

 new enterprises, or because they have not seen such enter- 

 prises successfully carried out elsewhere. In regard to 

 roots the capital required for an experiment is not large ; 

 and a great many instances of complete success are within 

 our knowledge. 



A farmer might begin with a small piece, say a quarter 

 of an acre, or even less, and make a careful experiment. 

 Let him cultivate it highly, manure abundantly, take the 

 best care, raise a large crop, keep an exact account of the 

 cost, and he will satisfy himself whether it will pay. He 

 will incur only a small risk whatever be the result. 



Carrots require a good soil, not particularly heavy and 

 strong, but rather a light loam deeply plowed and made as 

 fine as possible. It should be liberally manured — say from 

 four to six cords of the best manure to the acre. The seed 

 is easily and cheaply sown by a machine in rows two feet 

 apart. A horse can walk between these rows, carrying a 

 a horse-hoe, which is a great help in weeding. 



Of several experiments, I will mention the results. In 



