CARROT. 267 



the first to the middle of May, in a rich earth, in 

 drills, and transplanted in July into a fine, fertile 

 soil, at distances of three feet, and the ground about 

 the plants should be kept loose by frequent stirring. 

 "When heading, if the leaves are gently drawn to- 

 gether at top, it will improve the head by partially 

 blanching them. 



CARROT. Daucus Carota. 



There are six or seven varieties of this vegetable, 

 of which the early Orange, early Horn, and Altring- 

 ham are the best for the table ; and the Long, Lemon- 

 coloured, Blood-red, and large White the best for 

 field culture. 



'I'he carrot is a native of Great Britain, and grows 

 wild in many places, as does the potato in South 

 America. It is a valuable vegetable, extensively 

 used for table purposes, particularly in soups and 

 stews, and is exceeded by none in its good effects 

 when fed to animals. The general culture is the 

 same as that of the beet, requiring a soil deep, and 

 made rich and fine by manuring and working for pre- 

 vious crops. The main crop should not be sown 

 earlier than the tenth or the middle of May (though 

 some may be sown a month earlier), as early car- 

 rots, like early beets, are apt to throw up seed- 

 stalks, which render the vegetable worthless. For 

 field-culture, the earth may be thrown into ridges 

 two feet and a half apart, manure spread in the fur- 

 rows, and the ridges split and thrown back upon the 

 manure ; and the seed sown on the top of the ridges 

 after partial levelling. A light rolling is useful, to 

 press the earth about the seed. The carrot will 

 vegetate quicker, and come forward more rapidly, 

 if the seed, previous to sowing, is mixed with sand 

 or very sandy loam, and kept moist until it begins 

 to germinate, when it must be sown and immediate- 

 ly covered. The plants should be about four or five 

 Inches apart in the rows, kept clean, and will be fit 



