410 HORTUS GRAMINEUS WOBURNENSIS. 



Rye, or ray-grass (JLolium perenne) comes soon to perfection, 

 and when in a young state produces a plentiful supply of early 



carrot. The soil which answers to the turnip-culture is likewise adapted for the 

 carrot ; but it requires to be deeper. The highly nutritious nature of this root is 

 well known; it is excellent food for all sorts of cattle, particularly horses. Swine 

 are said to fatten sooner on carrots than on any other kind of food, and the flesh is 

 superior. The only objection to the general adoption of the cultivation of carrots 

 is their impoverishing effects on the soil, and the root does not succeed well if 

 manure be applied with the crop. The most successful mode I ever witnessed of 

 raising carrots in the field, was precisely the same as that of turnips, with the 

 exception, that no manure was applied with the crop. The seeds were drilled on 

 ridges, about the end of March, in dry weather, and on gaining their fourth leaf, 

 about the middle of May, were thinned out and tirst-hoed, vacancies being filled 

 up by transplanting from the crowded spots. The produce about 300 bushels per 

 acre. The long-red carrot is the most productive, but the orange variety is more 

 certain for a crop. Carrots are superior to turnips, in being more nutritive, more 

 hardy, and less subject to disease, and continue good till a later period in the 

 spring. But their effects on the soil unfit them for alternation as a green crop with 

 grain. The expense of reaping the produce is also greater than that of turnips. 

 Tlie growers of this root affirm, that one acre of it will feed as many cattle as three 

 of turnips, which exactly agrees with the comparative weight of nutritive matter 

 afforded per acre, carrots being superior to turnips as 3 to 1. 64 dr. afforded 187 

 grains of nutritive matter, 1 00 grains of which, according to Sir. H. Davy, consist 

 of sugar 95, mucilage 3, and extract \. 



The white carrot appears to contain more sugar. 64 dr. afforded 190 grains of 

 nutritive matter, 100 of which gave sugar 98, mucilage 2, and extract 1. 



Mangel-Wurzel, Root of Scarcity, Lettsom Root, White Beet {Beta cicla, Racine 

 dc clisctte). This variety of beet appears to have been introduced to the Agricul- 

 turists of this country by Mr. Parekyns, who sent the seeds from Metz, in 1786, 

 with directions for its culture.* Dr. Lettsom did much to recommend it for field- 

 culture. It requires a rich deep soil. Some recommend the seeds to be sown in 

 March or April, and as soon as the roots attain to the size of a goose-quill, to be 

 transplanted, 18 inches plant from plant in the rows. But with this as with all 

 bulbous and tuberous roots, transplanting does not tend to increase the size of the 

 root, as those tuberous-rooted esculent vegetables in general do much better when 

 not transplanted. The reports of the weight of crop produced on suitable soils 

 make this the most productive of esculent plants. But it impoverishes the soil in a 

 high degree, even more than carrots. The weight of nutritive matter afTorded by 

 mangel-wTirzel was before stated ; it is superior to turnips and carrots, and inferior 

 to cabbages and potatoes. 



Kohl Rabi, Bulb-stalked Cabbage {Brassica okracca, var.). This curious variety 

 of cabbage is a native of Germany, where it is much cultivated. They take it up 

 before the frost sets in, and protect it like potatoes or turnips, for winter use. The 

 produce is nearly the same as that of Swedish turnips, and the soil that suits the one 

 is equally good for the other. It may either be sown in drills, or raised in beds, 



* Trans. Soc. Arts, vol. v. 



