CARROTS, IVi^NGOLDS AND SUGAR BEETS. 25 



the tops of the roots it will do no harm, as Carrots differ in 

 this respect from other roots, in that, when the tops are cut 

 they are not apt to rot ; indeed, some practice cutting off 

 a slice of the root when topping, to keep them from sprout- 

 ing so readily when stored. 



Let the crop remain out as late as it can be risked with- 

 out freezing ; and it they are in good growing condition 

 this will be well towards November, in the latitude of cen- 

 tral New England, and even into the first week of that 

 month in the milder temperature of the sea-coast. Roots 

 not fully matured will keep better than those fully ripe when 

 dug, on the principle that the varieties of apples we call "win- 

 ter" apples are simply those kinds that do not ripen on the 

 tree, — they are not winter apples, because they are Baldwins, 

 or Greenings, for these same kinds in the South where the 

 ripening season is longer, are Fall apples. If the carrots have 

 been planted too early they will ripen before digging and be 

 apt to prove poor keepers, besides losing the advantage of 

 October weather which is the carrot month, doing more for 

 the weight of the late planted crop than all the season be- 

 sides. 



Rake the tops off the bed but do not waste them for 

 they are highly relished by animals, and if the carrots are 

 harvested when they ought to be, to keep well, that is, when 

 in good growing condition, there will be a great weight of 

 tops, sometimes as high as a quarter of the weight of roots ; 

 and this mass of green fodder, coming at a time when the 

 fields are usually bare of grasses, will prove very valuable and 

 acceptable food for the cows. The common way of gather- 

 ing the crop, by loosening with spades or forks and then 

 pulling out by the tops, throwing into heaps or scattering 

 over the ground and afterwards topping with a knife, is a 

 long and costly job. An improvement on digging is to run 

 a plough close to the row and then pull out as many as pos- 



