90 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



If yoa can ^at a seed-sower, that will simplify matters consid- 

 erably. A roller is essential in tlie culture of root crops which 

 spring from small seeds, but it can be readily got by all farmers. 

 A log of twenty inches diameter, and five feet long, with a pole 

 fixed at each end, will do the business admirably. 



Carrot seeds (and you m;iy say the same of the other seeds) ought 

 to be soaked in rain or soft water, until they are about to sprout, 

 and then rolled in quick-lime until the grains are dry enough not to 

 stick to each other. When there is no lime, wood ashes will do as 

 well. A pound of seed, if it be good, (and you ought always to 

 try it before sowing.) will be sufficient for one acre of land. By 

 the above plan, the young plant will come up before the Aveeds, so 

 that it will be ensy to distinguish the rows of carrots before the 

 weeds ap[)ear; tliis renders the cleaning comparatively easy, since 

 it may be done (except the thinning) by means of a cultivator. A 

 man or a boy may guide it so as not to touch the rows of carrots or 

 other crops, but only to raise the soil to a greater or less depth, at 

 pleasure. As soon as the weeds appear, you draw it between the 

 rows, so as to bring the soil as close as possible to the young carrots, 

 but without touching or covering them. This process will keep the 

 plants sufficiently clean until the time of thinning them aiid leaving 

 them four or five inches apart from one another; soon afterwards, 

 you may plow between the rows thus harrowed and raised. These 

 operations do good to the plant by permitting air and mo«5ture to 

 have access, and by facilitating evaporation. My plan for gathering 

 the carrots in autumn is to pass the plow along the right side of the 

 plants as close as possible, without injuring tliem ; this frees them 

 on one side, and the stem is strong enough to allow us to haul up 

 the roots by it afterwards. 



This method of culture requires a good deal of labor, but the 

 return is more than enough to recompense the farmer. 



When we consider the large amount of nutritive matter contained 

 in this root, and its general application to all the living things on a 

 farm, its culture cannot be too strongly recommended; besides, it is 

 relished by all animals, especially by working horses, to whom it 

 may be given instead of oats. 



I have dwelt particularly upon the culture of the carrot, because 

 the same method applies to the culture of all the root crops which 

 can be advantageously grown in this climate, such as parsnips, beets, 

 mangolds and turnips. 



Parsnips will grow in a close soil, almost in clay, and do not 

 require cellars, since they will remain uninjured all winter in the 

 ground. In this case, you will have them in the spring, affording a 

 new and succulent food, at a time when it is most necessary. Every 

 animal will eat parsnips with relish, and cows fed upon them yield 

 a very rich milk. 



Beets and mangolds have the same value as a crop, and as food 



