13S PROPERTIES OF CARROTS. 



Generally, all esculent roots do not require strong soils, or those 

 highly manured, as they thereby yield much of their strength to the 

 herbage, at the sacrifice of the best part of the root. The seeds have 

 numerous forked hairs, by which they adhere together ; they should, 

 therefore, be mixed and rubbed with fine sand, in the proportion of 



1 bushel of sand to 5 pounds of seed ; the mixture is then laid in heaps, 

 and occasionally turned, for 2 or 3 weeks before sowing. This occa- 

 sions their quicker germination withal. The seeds are sown with the 

 sand, as that assists in their equal diffusion. The plant springs up 

 before the annual weeds, and in 5 or 6 weeks it is hoed, which being 

 repeated 2 or 3 times, it requires no further culture. 800 bushels have 

 been gathered per acre ; but commonly from 200 to 500 are grown. 

 In the garden a succession of crops is obtained ; they are thinned to 

 6 or 3 inches, and cultivated with care. They are dug in November, 

 and preserved in winter in sand. Those intended for seed are re- 

 planted in February, 2 feet apart, the crown a few inches below the 

 surface; they produce seed in autumn, and are a source of profit. 



Some carrots have weighed 4 or 5 pounds each, and have measured 



2 feet in length, and 12 or 14 inches in circumference. Cattle, after 

 being fed on carrots, are said to prefer them to turnips, and readily 

 fatten on them ; swine are fattened in a very short time, and the flesh 

 is white and firm. Carrots are very efficacious in restoring the wind 

 of horses, which also retain their strength and sleekness fed alone upon 

 them and worked. Poultry also thrive on them ; and they are said to 

 afford a good nourishment for dogs. Being highly antiseptic, they are 

 sometimes used in surgical cases. 



Some say carrots are more nutritive than turnips, but the nutritive 

 matter is less, perhaps, in proportion to the quantity of land. 98 parts 

 in 1000, or 10 per cent, are nutriment, of which 3 are mucilage and 95 

 saccharine matter, which accounts for their antiseptic qualities ; and 

 this matter, ready formed, is greater than in any of the cereal grains, 

 and 6 times greater than that of potatoes ; and, consequently, are sup- 

 posed to be better for distillation, but it cannot be crystalized to form 

 sugar. It has been said that an acre will yield for this purpose $175. 

 18 tons, the produce of an acre, yield 100 gals, of proof spirit, a great- 

 er amount than that yielded by an acre of barley, while the refuse will 

 feed swine. 168 pounds of malt yield 6| gals, of spirits, 24 per cent, 

 above proof, or 2 gals, per bushel ; so that an acre of barley should 

 produce 74 gals, of proof spirit, or 899, wine measure. As food for 

 man, the carrot is light and wholesome. It increases milk in mo- 

 thers eating of it freely. When eaten by invalids, the external parts, 

 for reasons before mentioned, should be selected. 



The officinal root of physicians is the common carrot (radix dauci 

 sativa). Carrot juice (rob dauci) is reddish, and after standing, de- 

 posits a feculent matter which has lately been used in medicine. This, 



