THE CULTUKE OF KOOT CEOPS. 89 



in some measure on the variety, but also to a great 

 extent on good cultivation and suitable manuring. 



Soil and Manuring. Carrots require for their best 

 growth a deep, sandy, warm soil. Cold clay soils 

 are unsuitable for this crop, but a section can be 

 specially prepared for it by removing a portion 

 of the subsoil when trenching, and adding on the 

 surface a proportionate amount of sand or light soil, 

 forking it well into the top spade depth. The 

 preparation of the soil and manuring for carrots 

 should be on the same lines as advised for beet. 



When to Sow. For summer and early autumn 

 use sow early Shorthorn carrots from the beginning 

 of March onwards for succession ; 9 inches between 

 the rows, thinning the plants to 3 inches apart when 

 they are strong enough to handle. These early 

 carrots may also be used for inter-cropping between 

 the rows of peas, beans, late cabbages, and other 

 crops. Main-crop carrots are best sown the first 

 week in April, or even towards the end of March if 

 the soil and weather conditions are favourable. 



How to Sow. Carrots should be sown in soil 

 which has been thoroughly forked over and made 

 fine on the surface to the depth of a few inches. Rake 

 level and draw drills 12 inches apart and 1 inch 

 deep ; afterwards sow very thinly and cover in, 

 leaving the surface quite level. 



Thinning and After-culture. Early thinning is 

 very important for this crop. As soon as the seed- 

 lings are well into the rough leaf thinning may com- 

 mence, and they should be thinned gradually until 

 the plants stand at 4 inches apart for main-crop 

 varieties. The distances for early varieties have 



