Oji the Culture of Carrots. 421 



gular and clean, the women should be sent in repeatedly through 

 the summer, to pluck out all weeds that shall appear, and also 

 all carrots that have run for seed. 



§ 2. — Hand-hoeivg. 



In the carrot district so often alluded to, the whole business of 

 thinning and cleaning the crop has universally been performed 

 by labourers, who contract by the acre, to leave the crop clean 

 and well set out by three hand-hoeings : this was performed from 

 thirty to forty years ago, at 1 Ss. per acre, and it is done at pre- 

 sent at 255, to 28s. Mr. Burrows, in his first communication, 

 observes, " The first hoeing is with hoes four inches long, and 

 2\ inches wide ; the second is performed with six-inch hoes, by 

 2| inches wide." The idea of having hoes only 2| inches wide, 

 in order that less earth may be drawn over the weeds that are 

 cut, is useful, and should be followed. 



In Suffolk, when the crops are well sown and clean, they hoe 

 at once with six-inch hoes. In regard to drill crops, the inter- 

 vals, supposing them one foot, should be first hoed with hoes 

 seven, eight, or nine inches long, according to the accuracy of 

 the drilling and the skill of the workmen ; then women may 

 weed and thin the rows, which should afterwards be hoed with 

 hoes of four or five inches. In regard to repetitions, one general 

 rule governs in all crops, whether broadcast or drills — the ope- 

 ration should be repeated as often as necessary, to keep the land 

 absolutely clean : if 205. per acre will do this, well ; but whether 

 305. or 405. be requisite, a firm determination must be taken, to 

 complete the work eifectually. 



§ 3. — Horse-hoeing. 



Some attempts have been made to horse-hoe carrots j and if 

 a cultivator is determined to have them upon improper soils, 

 which require ridges for dryness and depth, the practice may be 

 fiecessary j but such cases do not merit particular attention. 

 § 4. — Mowing the Tops. 



Experiments have been published, tending to prove that the 

 to])s of a crop mav be mown for feeding stock to a considerable 

 value, without injuring the roots ; but counter trials are also 

 before us, made with great care and attention, by which the 

 result of this practice is proved to be highly mischievous : it 

 must certainly be condemned. 



Chap. XI. — Taking up. 

 In Suffolk they leave the carrots in the land, and take them 

 up as wanted through the winter : this was also the practice of 

 Mr. IVilliug and Mr. I'urrows, and will probably be pursued by 

 all cultivators on a great scale: the roots are safe from frosts; 

 but this circumstance forms an additional reason against mowing 



the 



