OF CROPS USUALLY CULTIVATED. 503 



which is the most valuable part of the plant, is nearly 

 double in what was uncut in summer, whereas the extra 

 growth of leaf, in consequence of summer- cutting, is only 

 about 12 per cent, at the utmost. 



In regard to the culture of carrots in Scotland, it has 

 been ascertained, in the most satisfactory manner, that 

 they can be raised on peaty soils with the greatest success.* 



* The following account of this important fact I have received from a 

 respectable proprietor in the county of Fife, and though already publish- 

 ed, it may not be improper to reprint it in this place. 



It is well known, that carrots delight in a soil where they find no dif- 

 ficulty in striking their roots downwards. Deep sandy soils were there- 

 fore recommended for that valuable article, but there is reason to believe 

 that peaty soils will be found greatly preferable. 



A gentleman in the north of Scotland, being desirous of cultivating 

 that root, and understanding that celery throve well on peat, he resolved 

 to try whether carrots also might not answer ; and he pitched on an acre 

 of low meadow-ground for that purpose, which might have been convert- 

 ed into peats for fuel. It was trenched in November, 180o, and a crop 

 of oats taken in 1806. After the oats were removed, a moderate quan- 

 tity of rotten dung, and some lime, were laid on the,groimd ; it was then 

 dug over with the spade, and in spring 1807 sown with carrots in drills. 



In the beginning of the year 1808, the ground got a small quantity of 

 dung, and was again dug over with the spade, and sown wrh carrots. 

 The crop was very abundant, and some of the carrots measured ei.ei^een 

 inches in length, although the ground was only trenched to the depth of 

 a foot. 



The quantity per acre was from thirteen to fourteen toiis, which was 

 sold, when delivered at Leith, for 7 s. 6 d. per cwt. or L 7, 1 s. net ton. 

 The produce of an acre, therefore, when the erf mense, 



L. 101, 5 s.per Scotch acre. The value of carrots, n* ' lie, ia 



well known, and it must be of peculiar consequent in the 



Highland districts of the country, to cultivate that root. 



From 168 to 200 carrots weighed one ewt, and, when sold in the 

 Edinburgh market, fetched, even the small-sized, 1 d. eac!> and the 

 larger sorts 1.', d. arfil even 2d. each. 



The principal difficulty is to get good seed. If that can be obtained, 



