304 OF CROPS USUALLY CULTIVATED. 



There are difficulties, however, in establishing a more 

 extensive culture of this plant in Scotland, at least in the 

 western parts of it. A respectable correspondent remarks, 

 that it requires a very favourable season, dry land, and in 

 full condition, to produce a good crop, and unless it is also 

 very clean from weeds, it requires very minute attention, 

 and too much time, for persons not acquainted with their 

 excellencies, to risk the chance of raising them in such 

 quantities as might prove ^useful for stock. Parsnips are 

 not only easier raised, but preserved, and have more nou- 

 rishment in them than any other vegetable, as he has as- 

 certained by feeding with them for many years, and distil- 

 ling them. 



The most satisfactory information which I have received, 

 regarding the culture of carrots in Scotland, was from Mr 

 William Scott, who had been land-steward for many years 



no crop will repay so well the expence of cultivation on a peaty soil. 

 Suffolk is the best county for obtaining it. 



The quantity of good seed required per English acre, is from 5 Ibs. to 

 8 Ibs. As farm-servants are not well acquainted with the culture, it is 

 best to sow the larger quantity. The price varies, according to the sea- 

 son, from is. 6 d. to 2 s. per Ib. The proper season for sowing field car- 

 rots', is from the middle to the end of March. They should be sown in 

 drills, but not in raised ridges like turnips, and not rolled. The drills 

 should be eighteen inches apart, if drilled on level ground ; but if done 

 with a plough as turnips, they would require two feet. 



To those who have peaty soils already in cultivation,f a trial of so pro- 

 mising an experiment is earnestly recommended, and that they would be 

 pleased to communicate the result to the President of the Board of Agri- 

 culture. 



+ When peaty soils are first cultivated, they ought always to be trenched 

 in the beginning of winter, and exposed to frost. If dug in summer, the 

 heat of the sun hardens them, and converts them into peat for fuel. But old 

 peaty soils may be trenched for carrots in spring. The produce has amount- 

 ed even to 16 tons per Scotch acre. 



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