THINNING CARROTS. 187 



the carrots gave about seven bushels to the rod. I took from a 

 quarter of an acre 275 bushels of long reds, and I think if I had 

 planted the rows three feet apart instead of two, I should have 

 taken a greater bulk. The outside row was evidently over a 

 hundred per cent, more bulky than the next row inward. 



Then I wished to test the value of thinning the carrots. 

 Some of my neighbors said, " Don't thin carrots," and some 

 said, " Thin carrots." I was positive which was the best way 

 in regard to beets, and now I wished to test which judgment 

 was best in regard to carrots. I had a truckle-hoe, but there is 

 a ledge or rail that runs each way from the blade of the truckle- 

 hoe, which, if it is run through the rows after the little sprouts 

 are up on top of the ground, will cover them up ; therefore I 

 think it best to run through first with the common hoe, until 

 the plants have got so large that they will protect themselves, 

 and will not be covered up with the sand or earth from the 

 truckle-hoe. Then I have a hoe four inches wide, and hoe 

 across the piece, which will leave four plants in a column and 

 four inches between the columns. That is the way I thinned 

 them out. But four rows were left not thinned at all. The 

 men dug these and measured them into the wagon. There 

 were ten baskets full of small roots. The next four rows, there 

 were twelve baskets full of good, stout, healthy roots ; which 

 satisfied me that I ought to thin rather than leave them not 

 thinned. 



My appreciation of the value of roots in feeding is to this 

 degree. I always give my horse more or less roots, and I think 

 if I had two tons and a half of hay for a full-sized cow, I 

 would sell twenty per cent, of the hay and purchase with the 

 money all the roots I could, and feed them in addition to the 

 other eighty per cent, of hay, and my cow would give me more 

 milk, and come out in better condition in the spring. 



Mr. Slade. In the early part of this discussion Mr. Hun- 

 tington remarked that he had become almost discouraged in 

 regard to raising French turnips. Mr. Ware has thrown some 

 light upon the subject, and I just wish to add that it accords 

 with my experience. I have for several years found that when 

 I planted my turnips and mangolds early — which, by the way> 

 we all want to do — we want to get them in and out of the way 

 before we go to haying, and hoe them once, perhaps, if we can ; 



