CARROT CULTURE 



197 



be shown in better roots just as with beets. Growers shrink, how- 

 ever, from the expense and prefer to trust to frequent cultivation 

 between the rows. 



Ridge Culture of Carrots. Where it is desired to get an early 

 start in a locality with a heavy rainfall the ridge system gives good 

 results. Choose rich soil, plow after the first rain, and then in Janu- 

 ary or February when the ground gets warm (according to the 

 season and locality) cross-plow and harrow until the ground is 

 thoroughly pulverized. Then ridge some two or three and a half 

 feet apart, rake off the combs of the furrows, making them level 

 on top and free from lumps. Put in the seed by hand or with a 

 seed drill covering lightly, cultivate and thin out for cow-feed 

 during the summer and the crop will be of good uniform size for 

 horse-feed during the following winter and spring. Though this 

 practice is still followed by some it has been widely superseded in 

 field work by later sowing and flat culture. For an early start in the 

 farm garden it has, however, some advantages. 



Harvesting. This is done by pulling, after loosening with the 

 plow. The time, as already stated, is usually during the winter, but 

 feeding often commences in the fall and continues for several 

 months just as with mangels. 



Field Varieties. Several large, yellow and white varieties are 

 used for stock purposes. The richer color and more convenient size 

 of the yellow varieties hold them in favor as a marketable stock 

 carrot, but the large size and greater crop of the White Belgian 

 makes it a favorite where the crop is to be fed at home. This variety 

 is grown in all California dairy regions. It sometimes reaches a 

 weight of sixteen pounds or more and a yield of over forty tons to 

 the acre on rich, deep land, though half of these figures would better 

 suit average conditions. The Danvers Half Long, in addition to 

 being a good garden carrot, is largely grown for stock. Long 

 Orange is valuable on light soils where digging is easy. 



Garden Carrots. As already stated garden carrots should be 

 grown quickly with acceptable heat and moisture. Simple forcing 

 conditions, like a bed of five or six inches of good loam over a foot 

 or more of tamped manure and a slight protective covering will 

 give very sweet and tender roots to the short varieties in our coldest 

 weather. But so much can be done with the ridge system or with 

 raised beds described in a previous chapter and with other simple 

 modifications of open-air conditions that very little forcing is done. 



