GROWING CARROTS. 239 



to handle evenly, and requires a shallow covering of earth. 

 It is more difficult to get a good stand of carrots than of 

 beets, but care will insure it with good seed. Distribution 

 is facilitated by mixing the seed thoroughly with a cer- 

 tain amount of moist sand, and if the mixture is kept warm 

 and moist the seed may be allowed to sprout slightly be- 

 fore sowing, but not too far. The seed must be placed in 

 moist ground, and half an inch is covering enough except 

 in light soils likely to dry down. The seed should be 

 pressed down well or the soil firmly about it, and then 

 lightly covered and the covering pressed slightly. 



Cultivation. Carrots in field culture are usually grown 

 in rows two to three feet apart according to the notion of 

 the grow r er. Thinning in the row is seldom done though 

 the advantage of it would be shown in better roots just as 

 with beets. Growers shrink, however, 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 January 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 by some it has been widely superseded in field work by 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 dur- 

 ing the winter, but feeding often commences in the fall 

 and continues for several months just as with mangels. 



