Varieties of Roots. i6i 



soils. The long types may be grown on the deep soils. The soil should 

 be well fitted, as described for mangels. It is preferable that the manure 

 be applied to the previous crop or else be well rotted before being plowed 

 under. One important reason for this is that carrots being slow in germi- 

 nation and growth permit weeds to grow apace. Fresh manure intro- 

 duces many weeds, and rotted manure is less liable to have so many. 

 Fertilizers may be applied, especially in the earlier stages, to stimulate 

 rapid growth. 



Seeding of carrots: 



What is known commercially as carrot seed is in reality a fruit. The 

 spines on the fruits cause them to cling together and give trouble in 

 sowing. For some time most firms have been selling seed from which 

 these spines have been removed, thus facilitating the passage of the seeds 

 from the drill. In the walls of the seed are small cavities which contain 

 an oil. This oil gives the ripe fresh seed a characteristic odor, and is 

 readily noticed if seeds are rubbed together in the hand. Carrot seed 

 germinates slowly. V^arious means have been tried to hasten germina- 

 tion. A common one is to soak the seed in wet sand for several days 

 before sowing, or merely dampen it and let the seed stand in a pile for 

 seven or eight days until it shows signs of germination. The seed is then 

 rubbed in dry sand to dry it before sowing. This is not considered prac- 

 ticable in all cases. .Six to seven pounds of seed should be sown per 

 acre, although if the seed is of good germination power four or five 

 pounds will be ample. 



During 1(^05, a careful examination was made of the different sam- 

 ples of seed sown and it was found that the number of seeds in a pound 

 was fairly uniform, varying between 410,000 and 460,000. It was also 

 found that the viability of these samples varied from 15 to 83 per cent, 

 and that the average was 46 per cent. With the lowest of these figures 

 it is evident that to secure one pound of seed which would grow, it was 

 necessary to purchase six pounds, and to ensure a stand it was necessary 

 to sow about eight pounds of seed per acre. 



The seed is frequently sown* in narrow rows 18 to 24 inches and 

 thinned to six inches asunder. For field purposes it is suggested that the 

 rows be about 30 inches and the plants left about 3 inches asunder in 

 the rows, this would give about 55,000 to 60,000 plants per acre. 

 II 



