92 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



Gum, . . ,. . . . . 1.5 



Woody fibre, 2.4 



Mineral matter, 0.5 



Total amount of nutritive matter in 100 parts, 6.6, or in 25 

 tons, a large yield to an acre, 1^^^ tons. 



In the above percentage, of course, only the produce of the 

 roots has been taken into consideration, and nothing has been 

 allowed for the nutrition contained in the water of the root, 

 which, as before remarked, possesses a considerable amount of 

 nutriveness. 



Carrot. 



The cultivation of tins root, the favorite in New England, is 

 generally so well understood, that anything can hardly be added 

 in the present paper, of value, concerning its culture. The 

 great value of the root for stock, seems to be over-estimated, 

 and when we take into consideration the amount of labor 

 required in the cultivation, and the yield in comparison with 

 some other roots, it is hardly to be wondered that its culture is 

 already being superseded by that of other foods. 



The carrot, as is well known, needs the deepest soils, and "will 

 not thrive unless they are warm, rich loams, at that. 



Preparation of Land. 



Ground intended for carrots should be ploughed twice ; once 

 at the earliest opportunity in the spring ; the second time, to 

 kill the weeds that have already sprouted. In fact, almost 

 every operation in their cultivation is conducted with reference 

 to the extermination of weeds, the growth of which constitutes 

 one of the greatest difiiculties attending their culture. 



The land having been deeply ploughed and harrowed, and 

 furrowed in drills, about 24 inches apart, the manure, from 

 eight to ten cords of barn-yard compost, should be applied 

 evenly at the bottom of the furrows, and covered lightly, either 

 with the hoe or plough ; the top of the ridges should be made 

 even and regular, and, the ground is ready for the seed. This 

 should be of the previous year's growth. There are several 

 kinds, each adapted to different soils. Those called horn carrots 

 are best for shallow soils, and the long carrots are most desirable 



