70 ROOT CROPS. 



CARROTS. 



We recommend to Ebenezer Bird, Leominster, a gratuity of 3 00 



We fear that the small number of Root Crops entered but too truly 

 represents the small number cultivated in Worcester North, and we 

 are moved to ask, with our predecessors of last year, **Does the culti- 

 vation of Roots receive that attention which its importance demands ?" 

 and to answer, with them, in the negative. 



There are, doubtless, many farmers within the Society's limits who 

 have tried raising them, and whose experience has been unfavorable, 

 but why? Many answers may be given, probably true, wholly or in 

 part. We can suggest but few. 



Perhaps the land was foul with weeds, coming from neglect in 

 cultivating former crops, and, therefore, -the Root Crop was badly 

 damaged by them, or made too expensive by the labor necessary to 

 keep it clean. Thoroughly clean cultivation, with some more easily 

 managed crop, is a very important preparation of the soil for a lloot Crop. 



Possibly the amount of manure applied was insufficient. "Three 

 loads of thirty bushels each" is not sufficient for J of an acre. Three 

 times that amount would give three times the amount of profit from 

 the crop. If any man doubts this, let him try it carefully, (on a small 

 scale, if he prefers not to risk a larger one), and he will be convinced 

 of its truth. 



Poor preparation of the soil may have aided in producing a small 

 crop. "Plowed once, harrowed, raked, and ridged," will not answer. 

 No man should expect a full crop unless he plows and harrows twice, 

 and three times would be better yet, especially if a good rolling comes 

 after the first or second harrowing, to thoroughly break the lumps. 

 Most Root Crops are, and should be, sown after corn planting is finish- 

 ed, but generally nothing is done upon the plot till it is nearly time to 

 put in the seed. Then the ground has become hard and lumpy, and 

 probably covered with a very promising crop of weeds and grass, so 

 large that, if well rotted, they may afford some plant food, but which, 

 for lack of. time, will only be troublesome in working the land. > 



Instead of this manner of proceeding, let the ground be deeply 

 plowed, very early, (turning the manure under), and when dry 

 enough well harrowed. Weeds will soon start, and while they are yet 

 in the seed leaf, work thcroughly with a steel cultivator or any imple- 



