THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



209 



BOUNTY FOR SILK. 



The legislature of New York have passed an 

 act allowing a bounty of 15 cents per pound for 

 all cocoons produced in the state, and 50 cents per 

 pound for the reeled silk. The act is to continue 

 in operation until June 1, 1846. 



WHITE CARROT. 



From the Sussex Express. 



We beg to draw '.he particular attention of our 

 readers to an excellent letter Irom Sir C. M. 

 Burrell, Bart., on the subject of growing the 

 white carrot, the value of which we can fully con- 

 firm, having this year (although the season has 

 been very unfavorable) obtained highly satistac- 

 tory results respecting it. We were induced to 

 experimentalize on this root at the recommenda- 

 tion of the Hon. Baronet, given last year. Next 

 year we shall offer a premium for samples of 

 white carrots. 



Knepp Castle, Nov. 3. 



Sir, — Perceiving, on perusal of your last Ex- 

 press, your notice respecting the premiums offer- 

 ed lor specimens of turnips and mangel-wurzel, 

 with accompanying statements of their culture, 

 and appreciating the probable beneficial results 

 of such an exhibition at Lewes, I trouble you 

 with the following practical statement in support 

 of my last year's published opinion on the prefisr- 

 ence of the culture of the white cattle carrot 

 over that of the parsnip for agricultural purposes, 

 and which was made in consequence of a let'er 

 from a correspondent in the Lewes j^dvertiser, 

 advocating the growth of the parsnip, in which 

 500 bushels per acre was stated as the produce. 

 Conceiving that from my then crop of whiie 

 carrots, grown on a very indifferent field, the yield 

 of which was 100 bushels per acre, without tht^ 

 green tops, that their culture would be more ad- 

 vantageous on stiff soils than (hat of the parsnip 

 with a return of about a moiety of the produce 

 only, I laid a comparative statement of my crofi 

 belore the public, that agriculturists of inteiligence 

 and spirit might try the results by sowing both 

 sorts on similar quality of land. But saiitfied as 

 I am myself of the prelerence of the white cattle 

 carrot on my farm over all roots fit for cattle, I 

 again sowed (bur acres broadcast on land o\' better 

 quality \h\e year, nnd so far as experience shows 

 m the raising and housing of about half my crop, 

 there will be, as near' as we can determine, 1300 

 bushels per acre, after separation from the green 

 tops; and considering Uie depth whence their 

 nourishment is obtained (in one instance no less 

 than 3 feet 5^ inches, and in several others nearlj 

 as deep,) I do not view it as a very scourging 

 crop, especially considering the vas^t increase ol 

 nutritious winter fodder, with consequent economy 

 of hay, for both fatting and lean stock, and espe- 

 cially milch cows, their cream and butter being 

 as good and free from any ill-flavor as when 

 feeding on the pastures ; and likewise looking to 

 the great increase of larm-yard manure resulting 

 from its consumption, to which may be justly 

 added the clean, friable, and finely pulverized 

 Vol. IX.— 14-A 



stale in which llie ground is left alter the removal 

 of the crop, particularly well adapted lor ridging 

 up during winter and sowing with barley and 

 seeds in the ensuing spring. .1 do not hesitate to 

 bring the results of my experience to your atten- 

 tion and consideration ; how far it may be desira- 

 ble hereafter to introduce the white cattle carrot 

 among those encouragements you otier in the 

 shape of premiums Jbr turnips and mangel-wurzel. 

 For the obtainment of the seed ^recommend both 

 Messrs. Wrench and Sons, ol King William- 

 street, seed merchants, and Mr. Gibbs, of Half 

 Moon-street, from either of whom good seed 

 may be depended upon. My first inducement to 

 try it was the representation of Mr. PJaton, M. 

 P., whose father, I understood, obtained the seed 

 Irom Holland ; with a result on sowing it, on in- 

 different laiid in Cambridgeshire, of 1000 bushels 

 per acre, with which my crop in 1839 tallied very 

 accurately, I led myself to believe (but from the 

 dryness which prevailed after sowing my seed 

 last spring, and ihe consequence of a Iresh growth 

 on rain tailing after hoeing in summer) that the 

 carrots would have been ol more equal size, and 

 (he amount of the produce possibly greater in 

 weight and value. For the cultivation of the 

 white carrot, fi-ee-working deep soils, well and 

 deeply drained and subsoiled, are to be preferred ; 

 and the better heart the ground is in, and the 

 cleaner the tilth, the greater will of course be the 

 chance of a remunerative and beneficial crop. 

 Mine were sown broadcast, 6 lbs. to the acre, 

 costing last spring Is. per lb. ; but whether being 

 sown in drills at proper distances, and ridged up, 

 would improve the crop, I leave to the dibcrimin- 

 ate judgment of practical and more scientific farm- 

 ers. 1 shall only add, that those who at my 

 recommendation have sown the white cattle carrot 

 express their satisfaction at their adoption ; and 

 my neighbor, the Kev. William Woodward, of 

 West Grinsiead, having eown them on a small 

 breadth ol land, has had cause to be satisfied with 

 the result equally with myself You are welcome 

 to make what use of my observations you think 

 proper, accepting my excuse lor sending them 

 hastily, and, 1 lear, rather incoherently written, 

 my time being too much occupied to make a fair 

 copy. 1 am, sir, your humble servant, 



Charles Merrick Burrell. 



ON COAL ASHES. 



From the Farmer's TJagazine. 



Coal ashes have long been knon'n as a valuable 

 article in improving all stiff tenacious soils, in 

 opening ihe texture, and in correcting the tenacity; 

 and in a pulverized state they form an excellent 

 top-dressing (or young grasses. They are very 

 seldom found unmixed with other substances from 

 the dwelling-house— a calx or cinder mostly ac- 

 companies, and except near large towns they 

 form an inconsiderable article as a manure. Lime 

 and magnesia are found in coal-ashes ; but they 

 are chiefly composed of silicious and aluminous 

 earths, and vary much in their nature and pro- 

 portions. 



They contain much carbonic acid gae, carbon 

 and hydrogen, with some iron; but our knowledge 

 ol them is very imperfect. The principal use ia 



