CHAPTER XVII. 



THE CARROT, PARSNIP AND SALSIFY. 



CARROT. Daucus carota. 



French, carotte ; German, mohre, gelbriibe ; Dutch, wortel ; Italian, 

 carota; Spanish, zanahoria; Portuguese, cenoura. 



PARSNIP. Pastinaca sativa. 



French, panais; German, pastinake; Dutch, pastinaak; Danish, pastinak; 

 Italian, pastinaca; Spanish, chirivia; Portuguese, pastinaga. 



SALSIFY. Tragopogong porrifolius. 



French, salsifis; German, haferworzel; Flemish, haverwortel; Danish, 

 havrerod; Italian, barba di becco; Spanish, salsifi bianco; Portuguese, cercifi. 



The carrot is a very popular root in California, and is grown 

 in all parts of the state, both for the table and for stock feeding. 

 It is perfectly hardy in all temperatures which come to California 

 valleys and foothills. It is patient during drought and proceeds 

 quickly with its growth with renewed moisture, which is a very 

 valuable characteristic in growing the carrot for stock feeding, but 

 table carrots should not be subjected to this ordeal, but should be 

 pushed with adequate moisture quickly from the seed to size to 

 secure the desired tenderness and mild flavor. To attain the coveted 

 weight for stock feeding, however, it is quite an advantage to have 

 the rain beyond the dry season, as well as before it, because early 

 sowing in cold, wet ground does not suit the plant and late sowing 

 does not give the plant time enough except on irrigated land, to do 

 its best in size before the dry season checks its growth. By proper 

 practice, then, it is possible to produce great crops of carrots in the 

 drier parts of the state, as well as in the moister lands and regions. 



Soil and Tillage. The requirements of the carrot so closely 

 resemble that of the beet that the reader is referred to the sugges- 

 tions for culture already given for the beet. The carrot has the 

 same liking for a light, warm soil, and the same reasons exist for 

 a deep and thorough preparation of the soil ; for, though the carrot, 

 if the seed is sown after the chill and surplus water have gone out 

 of a heavy soil, will do very well if well cultivated, it produces the 

 largest and most shapely roots when it can deeply penetrate and 

 easily displace the soil in its expansion. Carrot ground should, 

 then, receive early working to receive the rains, and be plowed again 

 and well loosened up and fined before the seed is sown. 



Sowing Carrot Seed. It is very necessary that the soil should 

 be in good condition. Sowing in late summer or early fall on moist 

 or irrigated ground is practicable, and so is sowing immediately 

 after the early fall rains have moistened the soil sufficiently to pre- 

 vent drying out. Plants from October sowing are ready for pulling 

 [172] 



