THE CARROT AND PARSNIP ROOTS. 



335 



required. When sown at once in drills, 4 Ib. to the acre, 

 according to Messrs. Lawson, 2 Ib. according to Mr. Bennett. 



139. Distances apart at which to set the Plants. When 

 transplanted, 16 to 18 inches. When sown in drills, the 

 plants to be thinned out to some distance. The distance 

 between the drills, when transplanting is adopted, 24 

 inches; when sown in drills, 27 inches. 



140. Average Weight of Roots. Oblong variety, 7 Ib., 

 round ditto, 6 Ib. 



141. Amount of Produce Per acre. In England, 26 

 to 30 tons; in Scotland, 20 to 25 tons; Ireland, from 30 

 to 35 tons. Mr. Bennett states that his crop yielded, 

 when sown in drills, 25 to 30 tons, and 5 to 7 tons less 

 when transplanted. Professor Wilson, in Our Farm Crops, 

 p. 346, gives the following as the results of one crop : 



142. The Carrot and Parsnip Roof s. (a.) The Carrot. 

 This root is cultivated in some districts as a root crop for 

 farm feeding purposes with great success; for horse feed- 

 ing it is very valuable, and cows also are fond of it, although 

 too much in their food is apt to give the milk a slight 

 flavour. The order to which the root belongs is the 

 " umbelliferse " the same to which the hemlock belongs 

 the genus is "daucus" and the species is "daucus carota." 

 The soil best adapted for the carrot is a light sandy one, 

 highly manured; in the heavier class of soils the roots get 

 clubbed and contorted, and do not grow to a full size. 

 The root is unfortunately subject to the attacks of insects 

 which rapidly injure the crop ; a top dressing of hen and 

 pigeon dung with ashes is said to prevent the ravages of 

 the insects. Great care is required in the preparation of 

 the soil, the more uniform and the finer the condition of 

 the tilth, the better will be the results. From two to four 



