160 Southern Gardener^ s Practical Manual 



root crops, should have the fertilizer applied in the 

 bottom of a deep furrow. The fertilizer may be finely 

 pulverized animal manure mixed with wood ashes in the 

 furrow, or a commercial compound made by mixing 400 

 pounds acid phosphate, 200 pounds of cottonseed- meal 

 and 100 pounds of muriate or sulphate of potash or 400 

 pounds of kainit. Mix these, and apply in the drill at 

 the rate of 500 pounds per acre. If practicable, the 

 fertilizer should be covered six to eight inches below the 

 general level if long roots free from laterals are desired. 

 Bed on the fertilizer, rake the surface smooth, sow the 

 seed thickly in a shallow drill, and cover to the depth of 

 one inch. The books usually advise thinning to four or 

 six inches in the drill. This is a serious mistake, which 

 not only reduces the yield of the crop but the size and 

 form of the roots. If the plants are left twelve to the 

 foot of row, each root will be better than if only two to 

 the foot, and there will be six times as many roots. I 

 have observed this many years, and have frequently 

 compared the roots grown thickly with those having four 

 or six inches of space. Cultivate shallow after each rain 

 through the spring and summer. Plant in rows two feet 

 apart to facilitate the use of the plow. This being a 

 hardy plant, the seed may be sown in February or as 

 early as the soil is in condition to be plowed. A half- 

 pound of seed will sow two hundred feet of row. 



Mammoth Sandwich Island is a long white variety 

 almost universally planted. 



Wisconsin Golden is a new and highly praised variety. 



To prepare for use, wash and scrape the roots, slice 

 them into one -fourth to one -half inch pieces, boil 



