CROPS. 553 



clay loam. Upon a very rich soil the stems will be proportion 

 ally strong and large, but the coloring matter not so good ; upon 

 a poor soil it will not pay the expenses of cultivation ; a soil of 

 medium fertility is to be preferred. It should be sown very 

 early in the spring, and the ground should be well cultivated in 

 the previous autumn. It does not require manure when sown 

 upon a soil previously well cultivated and clean. The seed must 

 be covered as lightly as possible, and it is best sowed in line. 

 It will require to be carefully weeded ; and when the leaves 

 begin to turn yellow, it should be gathered. In a sandy soil it 

 may be pulled with the roots ; in a clay soil, where the dirt 

 would adhere to the roots, it should be reaped close to the ground 

 with a sickle. The plants which are designed for seed should 

 be allowed to remain until the seed is perfectly matured. Fresh 

 seed is greatly preferred to seed more than one year old, which 

 often fails to come up; and when sown, on account of the small- 

 ness of the seed, it is recommended to mix it with some fine 

 sand. The plants, when gathered, are to be dried in the sun, and 

 then tied up in small bundles, so overlaying them, that the tops 

 of the plants shall be turned in upon each other, and the roots 

 project at each end of the sheaf. They must then be put away 

 in an airy and dry place, and are ready for sale. It may be cul 

 tivated on the same land once in eight years. 



13. CARROTS. I must not quit the crops common in Flan 

 ders, without referring to the culture of the white carrot, which 

 is vastly more productive than other sorts. This is sometimes 

 sown among rye or wheat, or colza or flax, after the last clean 

 ing, and a small crop is obtained in this way, but. often at the 

 expense of the crop among which it is sown. When sown as a 

 separate crop, they speak of twenty tons to an acre, or eight 

 hundred bushels. It requires a comparatively light and dry 

 soil ; it bears high manuring and deep cultivation ; and is con 

 sidered a profitable crop. 



I shall take the liberty of repeating here what I have said in 

 another place. The land, after being fully prepared by manur 

 ing and fine tilth, should remain until the first crop of weeds 

 comes up, and should be lightly ploughed, in order to destroy 

 these. Furrows should then be made upon the field, into which 

 the manure should be placed, and then a back furrow slice 

 VOL. ii. 47 



