476 VILLA GARDENING part v 



much. The after-culture is almost nil, as the tops of the plants 

 soon cover all the land and keep do-s\ni the weeds. 



Lifting and Storing. — This usually takes place in October ; 

 the roots are pulled — the tops cut oft" within half an inch or so of 

 the crown — and packed in sand in the root shed. A portion of 

 the crop may with advantage be stored in the open air in the same 

 way as Mangolds and Potatoes — covered with straw and soil. A 

 few good 



Caerots for Exhibition, when the soil is naturally unsuit- 

 able, may be obtained by making holes 15 inches deep and 5 or 6 

 inches in diameter at the siu-face with a crowbar, in rows 15 

 inches apart and 8 inches apart in the rows. These holes are filled 

 with sandy loam, with which some wood-ashes and a small pro- 

 portion of some artificial manure have been blended. When the 

 holes are filled with the compost, drop four or five seeds into the 

 centre, and cover lightly. The usual routine of culture will be all 

 that is necessary afterwards. 



Varieties. — For early work the early French Horn 'is best. 

 This is a small stumpy Horn Carrot which turns in very quickly, 

 and therefore is valuable for the first sowing, either in the frame 

 or in the open air. The early Nantes Horn is a good variety for 

 later sowings, and the Scarlet Horn is valuable for its brilliant 

 colom-. The Carentan Scarlet is a rather small delicately-shaped 

 and good-flavoured variety without core. The scarlet Intermediate 

 is an excellent Carrot for general use, and the Altringham is also 

 good. 



Diseases and Insects. — The Carrot is exposed to a good 

 many vicissitudes of weather, insects, etc., from the very beginning 

 till the close of its career. The young delicate plant, even before 

 its infant shoot emerges from the ground, often falls a prey to 

 devouring slugs and other insects, especially in badly-cultivated 

 soil. Frequent stirring of the surface, and an occasional sprinkling 

 of lime and soot when anything of the kind is feared, will be of 

 great advantage. The maggot which attacks the roots towards 

 the end of the season — at least their presence becomes more mani- 

 fest then — is a great pest in some gardens, and one difficidt to 

 deal with effectually. Nothing has hitherto been suggested more 

 effectual than a mixture of salt, soot, and lime — 56 pounds of salt, 

 3 bushels of lime, and 3 bushels of soot, the whole to be laid in a 

 heap in a shed and turned over till well mixed, and then left for a 

 month before being used. This will l)c enough for a bed four rods 

 or perches in extent. The soot and lime may be increased in bulk 

 if desired, but no more salt should be iLsed. It shoidd be applied 

 to the laud in February, and be lightly forked in. Paraffin oil has 



