On the Cultivation of Carrots. 117 



ly,* they must be kept free from the shade of weeds, 

 by small hand hoes, or by hand weedmg. This ope- 

 ration may be rendered less difficult by having the 

 crops sown on ridges of such breadth as may be easily 

 managed by two or three persons. A second hoeing 

 should be given in three weeks from the first ; and the 

 plants set out to their proper distances, which varies 

 from nine to eighteen inches each v/ay ; experience 

 proving that the crops are finer and the roots larger, 

 than when the plants stand nearer to each other. A 

 third hoeing will be requisite, when the weeds must be 

 completely cut out, and the weak plants and double 

 ones removed ; further hoeings may be necessary, of 

 which the cultivator must be the judge; the object 

 being to keep the land well stirred and the crop clean. 

 Harvesting. — Mr. Mason recommends the use of a 

 narrow spade, which the labourer strikes with one hand 

 into the ground, pressing it sideways at the same time, 

 while he draws the root with the other hand. After 

 being raised from the ground, the roots should remain 

 in the field for two or three days to dry,! then packed 

 in heaps, with dry straw, or dry sand, in some dry 

 building. — When piled in the field, a ditch should be 

 made round the heaps, to carry off the water.f Mr. 



* Six weeks will sometimes elapse between the sowinr^ of the 

 seed and the appearance of the parsley leaf. Mr. Mason, Transac- 

 tions Society of Arts, London, vol. 23 



t The dryin.q; of the plants would be expedited by cutting off the 

 tops, when first taken out of the ground. They may be given to 

 cattle. J, ]\r. 



f Rev. Mr. Eldridge. Com. to Board of Agriculture, vol. 5. 



