ROOTS. 159 



we have not a great supply of manure, it is well to save 

 some of the finest to be spread on after ploughing, and 

 let it be incorporated with the soil by means of the 

 harrow. 



As carrot and parsnip seeds are very light, and not 

 easily sown, they may be mixed with sand or ashes, 

 and be made moist with water some days before sow- 

 ing. If the quantity of sand or ashes be considerable, 

 there will not be much hazard in wetting the seed ; 

 hut, in such cases, it should be covered as soon as it is 

 sown. One advantage derived from wetting the seed 

 is, it will start up sooner, and be more above the weeds 

 at the first hoeing. Great care should be taken that 

 the rows be perfectly straight, and then we are not so 

 liable to cut up the small plants that cannot so easily 

 be seen. 



As the ruta baga, or yellow turnip, may be sown 

 much later than these, the ground may be difterently 

 prepared. The manure may be spread and ploughed 

 in, or harrowed in, two or three weeks before the time 

 for sowing the seeds : then let the ground be harrowed 

 every four or five days until sowing time. Many of 

 the weeds will now vegetate and be destroyed by the 

 harrow, and much hand labor in weeding will be 

 saved. 



The sugar-beet wants a deep, rich soil, and for stock 

 may be sown any time in the month of May. 



It is hoped that many experiments will be tried on 

 the raising of these roots this season, and on their com- 

 parative value. 



If we can make our own sugar from the beet by as 

 simple a process as the rock-maple sugar is made, we 

 can easily supply ourselves ; but, if other articles of 

 subsistence continue as high as they have done, we 

 must calculate what we can raise to most advantage. 



We want more experiments on making sugar from 

 the sliced and dried beet before we can enter largely 

 into the manufacture. 



