680 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



field well trampled after sowing, and before the 

 coming up of the plants. The benefits of this 

 practice have been highly appreciated by some of 

 the best farmers in Scotland j and, if beneficial on 

 their previously grazed and stiff lands, and under 

 their dripping climate, the practice would be far 

 more so on our lands, of opposite condition in all 

 these three respects. One among the great wheat 

 farmers from whose answers to queries Sir John 

 Sinclair digested his ' Husbandry of Scotland," 

 when speaking on this question, said that the 

 freshly sown wheat land could not be too much 

 trodden — and that he would be glad if a regiment 

 of cavalry were to exercise their manoeuvres on 

 every acre of his field alter its being sown. There 

 is also stated in Rozier's ^Cours Complet (Tjigri- 

 culture F'rangaise,^ a case of a newly sown wheat 

 field being used to confine a flock of sheep, and 

 which, by neglect, and by the sheep generally 

 crowding at night towards the entrance, was 

 trampled so much, that it was supposed that a 

 part of the crop would be entirely lost. But, con- 

 trary to expectation, none of it suffered, and the 

 part most trampled was the best. We quote from 

 memory, not having read either of the passages 

 referred to for many years, but believe that the 

 main facts are correctly stated. 



On a farm where the evil of a puffy soil, owing 

 to the cessation of grazing, had been very sensi- 

 bly felt, we advised the construction and use of a 

 trampling roller, which, so far as we know, is en- 

 tirely new. A round log of 5 feet length and 18 

 inches in diameter was bored full of holes, and 

 large pins driven in, of 9 inches length clear of 

 the log. These pins were two inches, or more, 

 across their outer ends, or " tread," and these 

 ends not more than 2 to 3 inches apart from each 

 other in any direction. The outer ends of the 

 pins were sawed ofl' (where required) so as for 

 their extremities to give a cylindrical surface, of 3 

 feet in diameter. The roller was set in a square 

 frame to be drawn by ; and when finished, seem- 

 ed so heavy and unwieldy, that the negro driver 

 (before hitching to) was sure that liis team of 

 four ordinary oxen could not draw it throughout 

 the day. However, on trial, it proved to be a light 

 draught, and much more so than the large square 

 harrow used to cover the seed, and which sweeps 

 about the same width. 



The operation of this roller was altogether satis- 

 factory, BO far as can be judged in advance of re- 

 sults. Unluckily no strip of the piece of land so 

 treated was left without the operation, for compa- 

 rison of effects. Besides the trampling and con- 

 Bolidating the mould, generally, as was desired, 

 the pins mashed every clod of any size, and much 

 more eSectually than is doae by the usual mode 



of breaking clods by hand labor with the eyes of 

 hoes. In the latter case, the large clods are mere- 

 ly broken into small ones ; in the other, the more 

 gradual but very heavy pressure of the roller not 

 only breaks, but pulverizes the clods. And where 

 much of this operation is needed, as on rougli fal- 

 lows, it may be well questioned whether the mere 

 expense of breaking clods by hand labor, is not 

 more costly than running a trampling roller. 



The idea of this implement was fiirnished by 

 that of the iron-spike roller, which is thinly set 

 with sharp iron spikes, as this is, thickly, witfi 

 blunt wooden pins. But the objects and opera- 

 tions of the two are very different. The spike 

 roller is designed to reduce and make fine and 

 loose the soil of very rough, cloddy, and soddy 

 fallows, to prepare the land for tillage or for 

 seed — whereas, the main design of the other is 

 to consolidate the already too loose and open 

 mould. The operation of the common roller is 

 also very different, as that does not press suffi- 

 ciently heavy on any places to serve much to 

 consolidate, except merely at the surface ; and 

 by making the surface smooth and even, ex- 

 poses the crops injuriously to the cold of winter. 

 Smooth rolling hardens the surface, and thereby 

 closes it against the influence of the air, and yet 

 does not materially compact the soil below. The 

 operation of the trampling roller is the reverse 

 ia both these respects. — Ed. F. R. 



HARVESTING CARROTS. 



From tlie Soutlicni Cultivator. 



Mr. Editor — "W not too late, 1 will furnish you 

 a fevj hints in regard to gatherino: and preserving 

 this valuable crop through the winter. There are 

 not many carrots grown in this state, and hence 

 possibly the propriety of giving a lew plain rules 

 for taking care of them at this season. 



[t is an old opinion tliat carrots grow more in 

 October than in any previous month. However 

 that is, October is now gone, and carrots should 

 be gathered. The first of November is a very 

 good time for this operation. Before gathering, 

 cut the tops about an inch above the crown with 

 a sharp hoe. They are fjood Ibod lor cattle, and 

 cows are fond of them. Then run a plough deep, 

 drawn by a couple of liorses, as close to the row 

 as possible, when the carrots may be easily pulled 

 and thrown into heaps or a cart. 'J'hey will not 

 stand as much cold as parsnips, but will keep very 

 well in common dry cellars, covered over with a 

 little straw or dry sand thrown freely among them. 

 They may be kept perfectly well in open ground 

 by selecting a high, dry spot, and digging a hole 

 about one foot deep, four feet wide, and of any 

 length you may wish, and laying the roots in, and 

 piling them up three or four feet high, and cover- 

 ing them over six to twelve inches with straw. 

 The advantage of raising the pile above the 

 ground is to permit a slight circulation of air and 



