TlHi THE FARMERS' HANDBOOK., 



close — usually a distance of from 12 to 15 inches. This permits of the use 

 of hand wheel hoes for cultivating. The seed can be sown either by hand 

 in a shallow furrow, raking a light covering of soil over it, or by means of 

 a hand seed-drill, planting to a depth of about half an inch. Fresh seed 

 should be used and may be mixed with sand to allow of a uniform sowing — 

 the seeds having a tendency to stick together on account of being slightly 

 hooked. If the germination is good it will be necessary to thin the plants 

 lightly to prevent wedging, and as the roots develop the larger ones should 

 be removed as soon as they become large enough for use. By this means 

 the usefulness of the bed is also increased. A spring sowing should provide 

 carrots fit for use from a few months after planting right on throughout the 

 winter. When growing for market it is better to make successive sowings, 

 and thin to about 3 inches apart while quite young, thus allowing of a more 

 even development of the roots and a consequent uniform harvesting. The 

 spring sowings are the most satisfactory, as the plants become properly 

 established before the hot weather is experienced. Sowing can, however, 

 be carried out during the summer months, and with proper care and atten- 

 tion to watering and cultivation good crops may be obtained. 



Carrots are sometimes grown as a field crop, more especially on sandy 

 alluvial river flats, of which portion of the Hawkesbury district is typical. 

 They are also grown for stock feed, but under these conditions it is usual 

 to plant a coarser variety, such as White Belgian, and to make the rows 

 from 30 inches to 3 feet apart. About 4 lb. of seed per acre is required for 

 this purpose. 



The harvesting is a simple matter where the soil is of a light texture, 

 the crop being very easily pulled out of the ground. But should the soil 

 be at all compact or hardened or the carrots very long, it will be necessary 

 to loosen the soil with a fork. The crop is usually marketed in bunch form, 

 but may be sold loose by the bag. For the best returns it is advisable to 

 wash the roots before selling. 



For the earliest crop, and on shallow soils, the shorthorn type (Early 

 Shorthorn) is preferred; for main crop, and on deep soils, the longer 

 varieties are best suited, namely, Intermediate and Altringham. 



During the cool months the roots may be stored by pitting in sand, 

 something after the method of storing potatoes in pits. It is usual to cut 

 off the top growth before heaping. 



PARSNIPS. 



The early cultivation of this crop is very similar to that of the carrot, 

 the greatest difficulty being to obtain a proper germination of the seed, 

 which must be fresh, or the result will be disappointing. 



As the parsnip is a deep-rooting plant it is obvious that a deep soil, and 

 one that is free from " hardpan " is the most suitable. Even where the 

 soil is of a shallow nature the crop can usually be grown successfully, pro- 

 vided that the land be deeply worked. A sandy loam, if not too light in 

 character, is the best for the cultivation of this crop, but fair results can 

 be obtained in almost all soils with proper methods of cultivation. 



Manuring of the surface soil with organic fertilisers immediately pre- 

 vious to planting is apt, as in the case of carrots, to cause branching and 

 distortion of the roots, thereby making them unsaleable except for stock 



