CARROTS IN CALIFORNIA 173 



from March onward, but if the place is quite frosty and the soil 

 apt to be water-soaked, spring planting is better. For this reason, 

 as already stated, some prefer to bridge the dry season, sowing in 

 March or even in April, so that the young plant may have the best 

 conditions at the start. As it gets age it becomes hardier and can 

 be taken from the ground in good condition and maximum size all 

 during the following winter. Late sowing is also advocated because 

 of the opportunity to kill weeds by plowing in the winter growth 

 before seeding. This practice is generally approved in the coast 

 regions of the northern part of the state. On the other hand, in 

 southern California, and in most parts of the San Joaquin and Sac- 

 ramento valleys, on the lighter soils especially, a start from the 

 seed in December or January, when weather and soil favor it, 

 gives the plant a chance to root well before the dry season and then 

 it is in much better condition to stand heat and drought than if 

 younger. Both practices are rational and each is adapted to its own 

 set of conditions. 



Carrot seed must be fresh. It is small, rather difficult 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 certain amount of moist sand, and if the mixture 

 is kept warm and moist the seed may be allowed to sprout slightly 

 before 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 firmed about it, and then lightly covered and the covering 

 pressed slightly. 



Cultivation. Carrots in field culture are usually grown in rows 

 two or three feet apart according to the notion of the grower. Thin- 

 ning in the row is seldom done though the advantage of it would 

 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 dur- 

 ing 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. 



