184 ESCULENT ROOTS. 



culture are the short horn, the long orange, the white 

 Belgian, and the altringham. The white Belgian will give 

 the heaviest yield, on the whole, but the long orange sells 

 better and is somewhat more nutritious. The white 

 Belgian is often of greater size, but coarser and of less 

 weight in proportion to its size. But many think the 

 short horn yields a more valuable crop than either. 



634. The carrot grows in almost any variety of climate 

 found in this country, but it is more especially adapted 

 to the northern regions, which ordinarily suffer less from 

 drought. Excessive dryness stops its growth and materi 

 ally lessens its product. 



635. It is most productive on a deep, light, warm loam, 

 capable of retaining a moderate degree of moisture in 

 summer, but with a dry and open subsoil. 



636. Deep ploughing and subsoiling are especially 

 important in the cultivation of this crop. The size and 

 weight of the root depend very much upon deep tillage. 



637. No manures of a coarse or very stimulating 

 nature should be used. They cause a useless growth 

 of fibrous roots and leaves to the injury of the main root. 

 Land enriched by previous high culture, where manure 

 will be unnecessary, is to be preferred for this crop, but 

 in any case only old and well-rotted manures, or some 

 concentrated fertilizer, should be used. These may be 

 spread on the furrow after deep and thorough ploughing, 

 and harrowed in when the land is ready for the seed. 



638. The seed should be new and fresh. When two 

 years old it will often fail to germinate. As it does not 

 start till utter it has been exposed to moisture for some 

 time, it is often soaked for eight hours or more, and then 

 spiv;itl oui quite thickly on the floor, where it is left till 

 it begins to germinate. This will generally be in six or 



