Varieties of Roots. 163 



mediate; of such are the carrots grown for human consumption, James 

 Scarlet Intermediate, Intermediate, and many others. 



Among stump-rooted varieties some of the half-longs are excellent 

 as table carrots, viz., such varieties as the Early Horn and the many 

 varieties which have been developed from it. The short stump-rooted 

 varieties are used largely for forcing and embrace some of the best table 

 carrots as Early Frame, which has many synonyms. 



The Altringham and the Japanese varieties are the representatives of 

 the cylindrical and taper-pointed carrots, the Altringham being the only 

 one of this class in general cultivation here. It is suited to deep friable 

 soils, and is unsuited to heavy soils, where it is very difficult to harvest 

 because it is so long and slender. Vilmorin Coreless Long Red is grown 

 for human consumption and not as stock feed. 



Cultivation of carrots: 



The plants must be kept clean and thinned as soon as they are large 

 enough to handle. It is essential that they be kept growing all the time 

 and for this reason, light top dressings of fertilizers, as nitrate of soda 

 and acid phosphate, may be made at intervals, during the first two months 

 of growth. These fertilizers should be applied near the plants and cul- 

 tivated in, but should not come in contact with them. 



Harvesting: 



Carrots are usually harvested before severe frost sets in and stored 

 in root cellars, as other roots. During the past three years the yields 

 varied from 7 to 25 tons per acre. Yields much higher than those ob- 

 tained in the past three years are frequently reported. The leaves or tops 

 of carrots are highly esteemed for stock-feeding, as well as the roots, and 

 appear to be of higher value than the leaves of mangels or rutabagas. 

 The yield of tops during two years was about four tons per acre. 



i 

 Feeding value of carrots: 



Carrots are esteemed for all classes of stock. They are particularly 

 valuable for horses. The following experiment conducted by Professor 

 Lazenby in 1879, ^s taken from the Cornell University Report for that 

 year: " We have fed our work-team liberally with carrots the past season 

 and find the crop to be one of great value for feeding horses. One bushel 

 of carrots and one bushel of oats fed in alternate meals, were of equal 

 value to two bushels of oats alone, while they can be grown at much less 

 expense. Horses, like hviman beings, require a variety of food and thrive 

 best upon a ration that involves a change of diet. Succulent food, in part, 

 will always prove beneficial, and this is best afforded by carrots." 



