The Culture of Vegetables 



each top is tied and turned over like a nightcap. A little soil is then 

 drawn to the foot, but earthing up is needless. In about a month 

 blanching is completed. 



CARROT 



Daucus Carota 



THE CARROT is a somewhat fastidious root, for although it is grown 

 in every garden, it is not everywhere produced in the best style pos- 

 sible. The handsome roots of Long Surrey that are seen in the 

 leading markets are the growth of deep sandy soils well tilled. On 

 heavy lumpy land long clean roots cannot be secured by any kind of 

 tillage. But for these unsuitable soils we have Sutton's Gem, the 

 Champion Horn, and Intermediate, which require no great depth of 

 earth ; while for deep loams the New Red Intermediate, Long 

 Surrey, and Altrincham come in admirably. Turning to the fine 

 art department, the Forcing French Horn Carrot demands attention 

 as an elegant and delicate root that appears on tables where 

 cottagers' Carrots dare not be seen. This variety is well adapted 

 for open-ground culture on light warm borders for summer supply, 

 being in demand through the season as a high-class vegetable ; but 

 the larger kinds of the Horn section may be allowed to attain their 

 full size, and be stored for use in autumn in advance of the main 

 crop. 



Carrots are forced in frames on very gentle hot-beds. They 

 cannot be well grown in houses, and they must be grown slowly to 

 be palatable. It is usual to begin in November, and to sow down a 

 bed every three or four weeks until February. In March the first 

 sowings on warm borders in the open garden may be made. A 

 lasting hot-bed is of the first importance, therefore the bulk should 

 be considerable, and the stuff should be robbed of its fire by turning 

 at least three times to insure a regular and moderate heat. In large 

 places leaves are used and answer perfectly, but beds of manure are 

 very manageable, the only necessary precaution being to get rid of 

 the first fermentation. Put on the bed about one foot depth of fine, 

 rich soil ; if there is any difficulty about this, eight inches must 

 suffice, but twelve is to be preferred. The bed should be near the 

 glass, and a great point is gained if the crop can be carried through 

 without once giving water, for watering tends to damage the shape 

 of the roots. Sow broadcast, cover with siftings just deep enough 

 to hide the seed, and shut up. If the heat rises above 70, give 



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