136 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The carrot has a double use, being cultivated for the table, 

 and for stock ; for our tables we want the swditest, the finest 

 grained, and the richest flavored of all the numerous varieties. 

 This we have in the Early Scarlet Horn, the earliest of all. 

 This is a short carrot, growing about three inches long and two 

 in diameter, but it will bear planting in rich land three inches 

 deep. For feeding stock, the size is of primary consideration ; 

 this we find in the White Belgian and large Orange varieties. 

 Tlip White Belgian will yield a quarter more than any other 

 variety, and growing partly out of the ground, a large part of 

 the crop can be pulled by hand. For horses this is a good car- 

 rot, but for the butter and milk of dairy stock, we want the rich 

 color of the Orange varieties, and the best of these is the short 

 top, half long, otherwise known as Improved Long Orange, and 

 locally known as the Dan vers Carrot. This carrot has a greater 

 diameter near the surface than the Long Orange planted at the 

 same time, while being shorter, it is more easily pulled and less 

 liable to break in the ground than that variety. 



The parsnip is at present, grown almost entirely for the table, 

 and at the best, we do not, ordinarily, by October grow a very 

 large root, other conditions being equal ; to the largest root, I 

 would award the highest premium. I think that the day is not 

 far distant when our Jersey Cows will be treated in winter to 

 the root on which they are almost reared in their native island, 

 the parsnip. Shallow, dry, stony, or anything but the richest 

 of soil is unpropitious for a good growth of the parsnip ; but 

 peat meadows, to the reclaiming of which so much attention is 

 given of late years, are most excellent for growing the parsnip, 

 and all other roots to the largest size ; and when the best possi- 

 ble result is sought in our Jersey Cows, in the condition of the 

 stock, and the quality of butter and milk, then the rich, sweet 

 parsnip will have its day. For family use, on deep soil, the im- 

 proved varieties such as Abbott's and the Student's, which taper 

 quickly from the top, are preferable, while for shallow soil the 

 little turnip rooter, of nearly the shape of a flat turnip, is a 

 gem. 



I believe of beets, as of parsnips, that a day will come when 

 the condition of quality will so far enter into our consideration 

 that we shall grow the turnip and long blood beet to feed to 

 stock. By planting early in the season in rich soil and thinning 



