THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 55 



Carrot-seed may be kept two or tliree years if there is a con- 

 siderable bulk of it, but small parcels are rarely to be trusted if more 

 than one season old ; and the fresher the seed the better in all cases, 

 as it has no albumen to sustain its vitality. In sowing it is not 

 ■difficult to separate the seed sufficiently in the fingers : but if there 

 is a large sowing to be done, it is advisable to mix with the seed a 

 little dry sand, and rub the mixture between the hands, as the seeds 

 cling together, and wasteful sowing renders the labour of thinning 

 additionally tiresome. Always thin as early as possible, and tbro"w 

 out the thinnings on the bed, as thej^ are of no use whatever for 

 planting. 



If a few delicate little carrots are required in the summer, and 

 none of tb.e horn variety have been sown, a few^ of the forwardest 

 young roots may be drawn from a bed of long or intermediate main 

 ■crop, and they will answer very well. If the ground is hard when 

 they are wanted, loosen it round the roots to be pulled, so as to get 

 s, firmer grip, and draw gently, so as to oblain them complete. If 

 carelessly or hurriedly drawn, they -will snap, and leave half behind, 

 which renders them but ugly stumps at the best. 



The best way to store carrots, is in dry earth in a shed. Ours 

 are packed up in squares against brick walls, in the root house, and 

 are covered with potting compost, I0 economize time, as the roots 

 are kept near the potting-bench. So long as they are not exposed 

 to the air, and are kept cool and nearly dry, they will keep in perfect 

 condition, but frost destroys thern ; warmth causes them to sprout 

 and become woody, and if quite dry they shrivel. Tiiey may be 

 pitted in sand on the open ground if the pit is covered with some 

 rude thatch to keep out the weather. 



In the case of a nice bed of horn carrots fit for use in the latter 

 part of the year, we should prefer to draw them as wanted, and 

 should protect from frost by spreading over them earth taken from 

 the alleys, and over that lay thatched hurdles aslope. 



Vermin do but little mischief to the carrot iu old gardens, 

 when the ground is well dug, but in newly-broken pasture land the 

 ■wire-worm is sometimes so plentiful that the roots are riddled to an 

 extent that renders them scarcely worth digging. In such a case, a 

 course of procedure that will j)ay well may be prescribed. In the 

 first place trench the ground arid put manure at the bottom of the 

 trench, turning the sod over on the manure, and the second spit on 

 the top. This should be done in the autun^n, and the land laid 

 up in ridges as roughly as possible. In the early days of March 

 lay potatoes in the troughs and roughl}^ cover by breaking down 

 the ridges. In the course of a week take up the potatoes snd 

 cut out from them all the "wire-worms, which, of course, are to 

 be destroyed. The land may now be dressed, and the carrot- 

 seed sown, and a good crop may be expected. 



Land so prepared will be iu capital condition for a regular 

 course of culture. The potatoes employed to trap the wire-worms 

 should be taken fresh from the clamp or store, for those that have 

 been sprouted for seed will be too bitter for the worm. When 

 the worms are removed, the potatoes can be spread out to sprout 



Februan-. 



