332 GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



first appearance through the soU, and seems to benefit them greatl5^ The 

 seed should be sown evenly but i-ather thin, — a small quantity of it will cover a 

 large piece of ground, but should be regularly scattered. Broadcast-sowing- 

 is preferable for this crop ; but if sown in drills, they should be 15 inches 

 distant from each other, and the plants left not less than a foot apart in the 

 rows ; or even a greater distance is better, as this crop resents anything like 

 crowding. If sown in drills, let them be very shallow — half an inch is deep 

 enough. As soon as they are up, use the hoe unsparingly, and see they are 

 thinned to the proper distance before the roots begin to swell. If attacked with 

 the fly, which happens in dry weather, dust with lime or soot while the dew is^ 

 on them : on light soils they will repay copious watering, 



936. Carrots may still be sown ; and those who know the sweetness and 

 delicacy of the short-horn kinds, in their young state, will take care to have a 

 supply of them. They may be sown till the latter end of July. Sow broad- 

 cast on beds, and thin to three or four inches, as these sorts do not require so 

 much room ; larger sorts are better sown in drills. If it is preferred to drill the 

 seed in, let the drills be one foot or 15 inches apart, as shallow as possible, 

 and sow the seed continuously along the drill, or three or four seeds 

 at intervals of six or eight inches : this economizes the seed, and admits of 

 going amongst the plants without treading on them. Light ground should 

 be trodden before it is drilled: the seed hangs together, and should be 

 separated by rubbing it up with soil, if sown broadcast ; but this is un- 

 necessary if sown in drills. The seed is very light, so that a calm day 

 should be chosen for sowing: a little wind is apt to blow it anywhere 

 but the right place : it takes from one to three weeks to germinate. As 

 soon as it is well above ground, use the small hoe unsparingly, and thin 

 out to not less than six inches apart ; as they advance, continue using the hoe 

 both to destroy and prevent the growth of weeds, and also for the benefit 

 derived from loosing the ground. They may be drawn for table as soon as 

 large enough ; but the main crop for storing should not be taken up till quite 

 the end of October, or even later, unless severe frosts set in. There are- 

 many different sorts ; but the Dutch Horn is generally used for forcing and early 

 crops ; intermediate for second or late crop ; the improved Altringham is good 

 for main crop ; but much depends on soil and locality. The same directions 

 apply in most respects to the culture of parsnips. Let the soil be deeply 

 worked, if possible trenched in the manner described in a former page, keep- 

 ing the top spit uppermost, allowing it to be well pulverized by frost. 

 Sow in drills 18 inches asunder, drop three or four seeds at intervals of nine 

 inches ; when two inches high, pull out all but the strongest of each cluster, 

 and use the hoe freely. 



937. Onions are sown either broadcast or in drills ; in either case the distance- 

 should be not less than six inches from plant to plant when they begin to bulb. 

 Sow the main crop the third or fourth week this month : an early sowing may 

 be made late in February, or first week in March ; and for pickling, or for 

 drawing while young, during the summer and autumn, they may be sown as late 



